Survey of Consumer Finances, 1957

This data collection is one in a series of financial
surveys of consumers conducted annually since 1946. In a nationally
representative sample, the head of each spending unit (usually the
husband, the main earner, or the owner of the home) was interviewed.
The basic unit of reference in the study was the spending unit, but
some family data are also available. The questions in the 1957 survey
covered the respondent's attitudes toward national economic conditions
and price activity, as well as the respondent's own financial
situation. Other questions examined the spending unit head's
occupation, and the nature and amount of the spending unit's income,
debts, liquid assets, changes in liquid assets, savings, investment
preferences, and actual and expected purchases of cars and other major
durables. The survey also elicited respondent's attitudes about
different methods of using income remaining after their expenses were
met, e.g., investing in stocks or putting money in savings. In
addition, the survey explored in detail the subject of housing, e.g.,
previous and present home ownership, value of respondent's dwelling,
and mortgage information. Regarding financial assets, the respondent
was asked questions on attitudes toward financial assets, minimum
balance in checking accounts, and common stock ownership and
changes. Also included were questions on life insurance coverage and
premiums, and whether the spouse had a full-time job and how much of
the year he or she worked. Personal data include number of people in
the spending unit, age, sex, and education of the head, and the race
and sex of the respondent.