Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior, Summer 1962

This survey was undertaken to assess consumer sentiment and buying plans, as well as to provide information about attitudes toward tax reduction, the recent stock market decline and its impact on consumers, and the geographic mobility of adults of working age from one town to another. Open-ended questions were asked concerning evaluations and expectations about personal finances, employment, recession, price changes, and the national business situation. Other variables probe respondents' buying intentions for a house, automobiles, appliances, and other consumer durables, as well as respondents' appraisals of present market conditions for purchasing these items. Additional variables probe respondents' opinions on the Cold War between the former Soviet Union and the West, the proposed government tax reduction, and the effect of these on business conditions, as well as their assessment of their financial status relative to the previous year. Information is also provided on respondents' attitudes toward various forms of savings, and on the frequency with which people used public transportation or their personal cars for specific purposes. Also provided are respondents' psychological profiles, political party identification, club membership, type of house and neighborhood lived in, pension plans, and experience with and feelings about various employment agencies. Demographic variables provide information on age, sex, race, place of birth, religion, education, occupation, employment, marital status, family composition, and family income.