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Inquiry activity

These interactive graphs show (a) the monthly number of consumers with inquiries to purchase (or refinance) a primary residence, vacation home, or investment property and (b) the monthly rate at which consumers who applied for credit to purchase a primary residence, vacation home, or investment property did not open a new mortgage account.

This page includes interactive graphs and CSV files for:

Figure 5A:

Inquiry index

This interactive graph shows the number of consumers with mortgage inquiries each month indexed to January 2009 levels. Because not all lenders need to pull credit reports from all three nationwide consumer reporting agencies, the graphs are presented as indices. Monthly inquiry indices are displayed along with a seasonally adjusted series, which adjust for expected seasonal variation in credit application activity.

Indexed number of consumers with inquiries (beta)

Indexed number of people with mortgage inquiries.

Source: CFPB Consumer Credit Panel
Date published: December 2019
Download: CSV file
Note: Data from the last four months are not final. The most recent data available in this visualization are for August 2019.

Figure 5B:

Credit tightness index

This interactive graph shows the number of consumers who applied for a mortgage each month and did not obtain additional credit. An increase in the credit tightness index indicates that fewer inquiries are transitioning into loans relative to January 2009. To better reflect changes in credit market tightness, we adjust the data to hold the scores of those applying for credit constant. This helps to isolate changes in lender policies as opposed to changes in the applicant pool. Monthly credit tightness indices are displayed along with a seasonally adjusted series, which adjust for expected seasonal variation in credit application activity.

Indexed number of consumers with credit tightness (beta)

Indexed number of people who applied for mortgages but did not open a new account.

Source: CFPB Consumer Credit Panel
Date published: December 2019
Download: CSV file
Note: The most recent data available in this visualization are for November 2018.