1989 Survey of Consumer Finances
Survey Results
Special Note on the 1989 SCFThe 1989 SCF had an overlapping panel/cross-section sample design that can be approximately characterized as follows. 1983 participants who still lived at their 1983 addresses in 1989 were included in both the panel and the cross-section. A sample of 1983 participants who had moved was followed, and these cases have only panel representation. New residents of 1983 sample addresses and members of a newly selected cross-section sample have only cross-sectional representation. The data referenced on this page pertain only to cases with cross-sectional representation. Data for cases with panel representation may be found on the 1983-1989 Panel SCF page.
Three types of summary output are available on this page: a Federal Reserve Bulletin article; two sets of tables, in Excel format, that provide estimates comparable to the tables included in the Bulletin article, one using the the internal SCF data and another using the public SCF data; and a chartbook that includes time series charts using triennial SCF data covering the period 1989 to 2004.
Changes in Family Finances from 1983 to 1989: Evidence from the Survey of Consumer Finances
Arthur B. Kennickell and Janice Shack-Marquez
Federal Reserve Bulletin, vol. 78 (January 1992), pp. 1-18.
Article (1.3 MB PDF)
Expanded Versions of the Tables in the Federal Reserve Bulletin Article, in Excel Format
Additional tables are available in Excel format (users without Excel may
download the free Excel
viewer) based on the table structures in the Bulletin
article cited above. Four sets are provided. For both the internal and
public versions of the SCF data, estimates are given in nominal and in
inflation-adjusted terms (see the inflation factors in the
variable definitions for the extract data
set).
Each of these sets of tables contains
estimates from the 1989, 1992, 1995, 1998, 2001, and 2004 SCFs. In addition
to the types of calculation reported in the Bulletin article, these sets of
tables also contain an alternative version of table 11 as well as estimates of
means corresponding to the median values reported in tables 5, 8, and 11.
Users should be aware that because robust techniques were not used to
calculate the mean estimates, results in some instances may be strongly
affected by outliers.
Tables Based on the Internal Data
The calculations reported in these tables are made from the internal data,
incorporating any weighting adjustments implemented in the analysis of those
data for purposes of the summary articles in the Federal Reserve Bulletin.
Estimates in nominal dollars
Estimates inflation-adjusted to 2004 dollars
Tables Based on the Public Data
The calculations reported in these tables are made from the public data, not
incorporating any weighting adjustments implemented in the analysis for those
data for purposes of the summary articles in the Federal Reserve Bulletin.
These calculations may be convenient for users who want to ensure that their
estimates align with those made using the definitions
employed in the writing of the most recent Bulletin article.
Estimates in nominal dollars
Estimates inflation-adjusted to 2004 dollars
Tables last updated April 25, 2007
SCF Chartbook
The SCF chartbook contains time series charts using triennial SCF data covering
the period 1989 to 2004. The variables included are ones that appeared in a set of the
tables in the Bulletin article. For each variable and classification
group, the charts show the percent of families in the group who have the item
and the median and mean amounts of holdings for those who have any. All
dollar estimates are given in 2004 dollars. The 2004 SCF chartbook is
provided in both PDF and Excel formats. The PDF version is a static file that
includes all of the charts in the order they appear in the tables in the
Bulletin article. The Excel format of the chartbook utilizes Visual
Basic code to allow users to select from a drop down box the chart they
would like to view. The definitions of the summary
variables are given by the SAS program
used to create them.
SCF Chartbook: Excel Format (947 KB XLS)
SCF Chartbook: PDF Format (3.91 MB ZIP)
Charts last updated April 25, 2007
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