Survey of Consumer Finances, 1971

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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 family unit was interviewed. Starting in 1966, in order to examine the effect that increased car ownership was having on American families, the data collected in this series were organized so that they could be analyzed by both family unit and car unit. The 1971 data are based on car unit. Survey questions regarding automobiles included number of drivers and car owners in the family, make and model of each car, purchase method, car financing and installment debt, and expectations of car purchases in the coming year. Other questions in the 1971 survey covered the respondent's attitudes toward national economic conditions (e.g., the effect of United States relations with Vietnam, Cambodia, and in the Middle East, inflation and unemployment on United States business) and price activity, as well as the respondent's own financial situation. Other questions examined the family unit head's occupation, and the nature and amount of the family's income, debts, liquid assets, changes in liquid assets, savings, investment preferences, and actual and expected purchases of major durables. In addition, the survey explored the subject of housing and neighborhood characteristics. Questions in this survey also focused on credit card use and purchases. Personal data include age and education of head, household composition, political affiliation, and occupation.