Reports

We study how consumers interact with financial products and services to help identify potential problems in the marketplace and achieve better outcomes for all. Review our reports and analyses to help inform your decisions, policies, and practices. And, see reports that we periodically prepare about the CFPB.

Data point: Mortgage trends

This Bureau Data Point article describes 2020 mortgage market activity and trends using data reported under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

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The power of light-touch financial education: A demonstration with credit card revolvers

Rules-based educational messages are low-cost and scalable, and can be effective. Exposure to a guideline reminding consumers to be cognizant of credit card...

Consumer education and empowerment

Published FEB 28, 2017

Consumer insights on managing spending

This report describes CFPB research on approaches to helping consumers manage their spending, such as approaches that would give consumers real-time...

Consumer education and empowerment

Published FEB 10, 2017

Personal finance teaching pedagogy

The CFPB researched the childhood origins of financial capability and well-being to identify those roots and to find promising practices and strategies to...

Consumer education and empowerment To Congress

Published OCT 31, 2016

2016 Financial Literacy Annual Report

The 2016 Financial Literacy Annual Report is a statutorily mandated report to Congress on the Bureau's activities and strategy to improve the financial...

Consumer education and empowerment

Published OCT 20, 2016

Financial Coaching: A Strategy to Improve Financial Well-Being

These two reports summarize the findings of a rigorous evaluation of financial coaching and discuss the implications for financial education practitioners.

Consumer education and empowerment

Published SEP 07, 2016

Building Blocks to Help Youth Achieve Financial Capability: A new model and recommendations

We've released a new report on our findings for how young people can acquire three building blocks of financial capability which include: executive...

Consumer education and empowerment

Published JUL 15, 2016

Financial education programs serving immigrant populations

The CFPB issued this report to raise visibility about the financial education challenges that many immigrants face and to highlight promising approaches to...

Consumer education and empowerment

Published JUN 09, 2016

Consumer voices on automobile financing

This report describes the findings of consumer focus groups and consumer complaint data about the challenges of navigating the auto financing process. We...

Consumer education and empowerment

Published MAR 31, 2016

Consumer voices on financial rules to live by

In focus groups with consumers, the CFPB learned that many consumers are aware of and interested in financial rules of thumb. However, many consumers also...

Consumer education and empowerment

Published DEC 10, 2015

Measuring financial well-being: A guide to using the CFPB Financial Well-Being Scale

Following a rigorous research effort to develop a consumer-driven definition of financial well-being, the CFPB developed and tested a set of questions–a...

To Congress

Published OCT 29, 2015

2015 Financial literacy annual report

Empowering people to take more control over their economic lives is essential to our mission.

Consumer education and empowerment

Published OCT 21, 2015

Youth Financial Education Curriculum Review Tool

The CFPB is pleased to offer the Youth Financial Education Curriculum Review Tool, a resource that educators can use when selecting and updating financial...

Consumer education and empowerment

Published SEP 24, 2015

Increasing saving at tax time and promising practices for the field

The CPFB has identified ten promising practices that may help tax preparation programs be more successful at informing consumers about their saving options.

Consumer education and empowerment

Published APR 07, 2015

Advancing K-12 financial education: A guide for policymakers

Integrating financial education throughout the K-12 experience represents a promising opportunity to reach consumers at a pivotal point in their development...

Consumer education and empowerment

Published FEB 19, 2015

Consumer voices on credit reports and scores

To better understand consumers' perspectives on their credit reports and scores, we conducted focus groups with consumers from diverse backgrounds across...

Consumer education and empowerment

Published JAN 27, 2015

Financial well-being: The goal of financial education

A growing consensus is emerging that the ultimate measure of success for financial literacy efforts should be improvement in individual financial well-being.

Consumer education and empowerment

Published AUG 26, 2014

Financial wellness at work

In the wake of the recession, many employers have seen how financial distress reduces worker productivity, increases absenteeism, and undermines employees'...

Consumer education and empowerment

Published AUG 21, 2014

Building financial capability in youth employment programs

Youth employment programs present a promising opportunity for helping disadvantaged youth acquire the financial knowledge, skills, and access to resources...

Consumer education and empowerment

Published JUL 17, 2014

2014 Financial literacy annual report

Empowering people to take more control over their economic lives is essential to our mission.

Consumer education and empowerment

Published JAN 24, 2014

Rigorous evaluation of financial capability strategies: Why, when, and how

This report presents insights that can be helpful to researchers, practitioners, and funders undertaking or contemplating rigorous research into the...

Consumer education and empowerment

Published NOV 18, 2013

Navigating the market

To understand the wide range of information sources consumers could be exposed to in making financial decisions, we commissioned a study of the size and...

Consumer education and empowerment

Published NOV 14, 2013

Empowering low income and economically vulnerable consumers

The low-income and economically vulnerable population includes as many as 100 million people.

Consumer education and empowerment

Published SEP 18, 2013

Financial empowerment training for social service programs

We recognize that social service agencies are a trusted resource for some consumers.

To Congress

Published JUL 18, 2013

Financial literacy annual report

Improving financial literacy requires more than simply providing consumers with more information.

Consumer education and empowerment

Published MAY 14, 2013

Feedback from the financial education field

We've initiated an outreach program to listen to and engage the many stakeholders who have an interest in improving consumers' abilities to make informed...

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