Center for Microeconomic Data

 
SURVEY OF CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS
Year-Ahead Spending Growth Expectations Climb Sharply
November Survey: Households’ year-ahead spending growth expectations rose sharply in November to 3.7 percent—the highest level in more than four years—despite flat income and earnings growth expectations. Median inflation expectations increased at both the one- and three-year horizons.
(Posted Dec. 14)
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SCE Household Spending Survey
Household Spending Accelerates; Spending Expectations Also Rise
The median year-over-year change in monthly household spending increased to 1.9 percent in August 2020, up from 1.0 percent in April. The increase was driven by respondents without a college degree, with spending growth for those with a college degree remaining subdued at only 0.6 percent. The median expected growth in everyday essential spending rose to a new series high, with the median growth expectations for non-essential spending and year-ahead overall monthly spending also increasing significantly.
(posted Sep 28)
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Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit
Household Debt Resumes Rise after Second Quarter Decline
Total household debt increased by $87 billion (0.6 percent) to $14.35 trillion in third quarter of 2020, more than offsetting the decline seen in the previous quarter. Mortgage originations, including refinances, maintained their upward trend as homeowners continue to take advantage of the low interest rate environment. Balances and delinquency rates across debt products remained largely stable in the third quarter.
(posted Nov 17)
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CREDIT CARDS
Credit card availability and use—including originations, extensions, balances, and delinquencies
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Report: Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit
Interactive: Household Debt and Credit
Blog: A Monthly Peek into Americans’ Credit During the COVID-19 Pandemic

HOUSING MARKET
Consumer experiences, behaviors, and expectations in the housing market—including mortgage financing
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Report: The Evolution and Future of Homeownership
Interactive: SCE Housing Survey
Blog: Optimists and Pessimists in the Housing Market

INFLATION EXPECTATIONS
Consumers’ expectations and forecast uncertainty for overall inflation and home price growth, and expected price changes for key commodities
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Interactive: Survey of Consumer Expectations
Press Release: Consumer Spending Expectations Rise Despite Flat Income and Earnings Expectations

STUDENT DEBT
Borrowing and repayment trends in the student loan market
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Analysis: Student Loan Borrowing and Repayment by Neighborhood Composition
Blog: Is Free College the Solution to Student Debt Woes?
Blog: Racial Disparities in Student Loan Outcomes

SAVING AND SPENDING
Data and analysis focused on consumers’ overall financial health, including their ability to save, spend, and borrow
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Blog: Consumers Expect Modest Increase in Spending Growth and Continued Government Support
Blog: Amid the COVID-19 Outbreak, Consumer Temper Spending Outlook
Interactive: SCE Household Spending Survey

LABOR MARKET
Perceptions of labor market conditions, including the outlook for earnings growth and employment
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Blog: Job Ladders and Careers
Blog: Transitions to Unemployment Tick Up in Latest SCE Labor Market Survey
Interactive: SCE Labor Market Survey

AUTO LOANS
Expectations and experiences with auto loans—including applications and rejections, balances, and delinquencies
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Blog: A Monthly Peek into Americans’ Credit During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Interactive: SCE Credit Access Survey

PUBLIC POLICY
Consumers’ outlook on public policy—likelihood of changes, impact of shifts
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Blog: Consumers Expect Modest Increase in Spending Growth and Continued Government Support
Interactive: SCE Public Policy Survey
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