Research Guides: Data & Statistics Portal: Consumers and the Cost of Living

University of Arkansas Resources

Sage Data
Covers: 2010- . Provides access to statistical data produced by U.S. Federal agencies, States, private organizations, and major intergovernmental organizations. There are over 52 billion data points available in charts, maps, views, rankings, time series and tables in the Data-Planet repository.
MRI-Simmons Catalyst
Covers: current 3 years. Provides information about consumer purchases of brands, product types, and media consumption. The data is drawn from MRI's Survey of the American Consumer, which focuses on demographic, product and media data.

15 concurrent user limit.
Mintel Reports: Academic Edition
Covers: current. Provides detailed reports on marketing, advertising, product category trends, and consumer attitudes, as well as financial and company data, including recent mergers and acquisitions.

Click-through license agreement required for access.
Mergent Archives
Covers: varies by series. Offers a platform for historical series of several Dun and Bradstreet publications, covering both public and private company information, executive biographies, and industry profiles. Components available from the University Libraries include: Annual Reports, 1844-, Country Report, (Dun & Bradstreet Country Insight Reports, 2003-2010, CRB Commodity Yearbook, 1939-2010, and Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios (KBR), 1979-2010.

Consumer Information

American Customer Satisfaction Index
The American Customer Satisfaction Index provides an index of customer satisfaction on 10 economic sectors, 45 industries, 225 companies, and 200 government services. 1995 -
Bureau of Labor Statistics. American Time Use Survey
The American Time Use Survey (ATUS) measures the amount of time people spend doing various activities, such as paid work, childcare, volunteering, and socializing.
Consumer Expenditure Survey
"The Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CE) program provides data on expenditures, income, and demographic characteristics of consumers in the United States. The CE program provides these data in tables, databases, news releases, reports, and public use microdata files." (bls.gov)
Country Statistical Yearbooks
This guide, from the University of Wisconsin, provides links to country statistical yearbooks or similar collections (census, "facts and figures," etc.) for 154 countries worldwide.
International Monetary Fund - Data Portal
The IMF (International Monetary Fund) data sets include the data published in : International Financial Statistics, Balance of Payment Statistics, Government Finance Statistics,and Direction of Trade Statistics.
Survey of Consumer Finance
The Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) is normally a triennial cross-sectional survey of U.S. families. The survey data include information on families’ balance sheets, pensions, income, and demographic characteristics. Information is also included from related surveys of pension providers and the earlier such surveys conducted by the Federal Reserve Board.
Surveys of Consumers
From the University of Michigan, this survey provides information on consumer sentiment, personal finances, savings and retirement, economic conditions, vehicle buying, home buying, home durables buying and unemployment.
Worldback Open Data - The Private Sector
World Bank Open Data provides free and open access to data in countries around the globe. Find business related statistics and data from databases and projects such as the Doing Business project, Enterprise Surveys, and Household Consumption Database.

Cost of Living

Consumer Price Index
Cost of Living Calculator
What is your dollar worth today? The Cost of Living Calculator, also known as the COLA Calculator, calculates the cost of living in the past and present based on our research here at American Institute for Economic Research.
Living Wage Calculator
Developed by researchers at MIT, the Living Wage Calculator estimates the the cost of living in your community or region and lists typical expenses, the living wage and typical wages for the selected state/county.
Prices and Wages by Decade
A useful guide provided by the University of Missouri providing data links from 1700 -

Taxes

Taxes - Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the nation's tax collection agency and administers the Internal Revenue Code enacted by Congress. Here you will find a wide range of tables, articles, and data that describe and measure elements of the U.S. tax system.