Background Memo
The most recent poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind was conducted by telephone from January 9 through January 19 using a randomly selected sample of 800 adults aged 18 and over who report that they participate in financial decisions in their household. The sampling error for 800 adults is +/- 3.5 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling error. This kind of error, which cannot be measured, arises from a number of factors including, but not limited to, non-response (eligible individuals refusing to be interviewed), question wording, the order in which questions are asked, and variations among interviewers. Interviews were conducted by TMR, Inc. of Cedar Knolls, NJ. Professionally trained interviewers use a CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) system. Random selection is achieved through computerized random-digit dialing. This technique gives every person with a phone number (including those with unlisted numbers) an equal chance of being selected. Results are also mathematically weighted to match known demographics.
The Index of Consumer Performance is a composite number of reported behavior over, and opinions of, the past year. The Index of Consumer Intentions is a composite number of consumer opinions of, and intentions for, the coming year. Each number is based on a series of questions about the economy, personal finance, and consumer intentions. Responses about the direction of the economy and personal finances account for 40% of the composite. Consumer intentions regarding a variety of major expenditures over the past and coming year make up 50% of the index. And 10% of the composite number is a reflection of consumers’comfort with personal debt. The scale can theoretically vary from 0 to 100. The project was underwritten by the Silberman College of Business.
see also:
Survey Analysis
Tabular Results