Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behavior, Summer 1973

This survey was undertaken to assess consumer sentiment and buying plans. Open-ended questions were asked concerning evaluations and expectations about personal finances, employment, recession, price changes, and the national business situation. Additional variables probe respondents' buying intentions for a house, automobiles, appliances, and other consumer durables, and the respondents' appraisals of present market conditions for purchasing houses and other durables. Other variables probe respondents' opinions of government price controls, government spending, especially spending on welfare, income tax filing and returns, small foreign cars as compared to small American cars, and their financial status relative to the previous year. Information is also provided on respondents' car ownership and the make and use of it, and spending plans for their income tax refunds. Demographic variables provide information on respondents' age, sex, race, marital status, occupation, employment status, and family income.