October 09, 2026

Federal Reserve Board releases results of the 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances, which provides the public and policymakers with detailed insights into the economic condition of American families

For release at 10:00 a.m. EDT

The Federal Reserve Board on Friday officially released the highly anticipated results of the 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances, offering the public, researchers, and policymakers an unprecedented and detailed look into the economic health and financial realities of American families. Conducted regularly to capture the shifting dynamics of household finances, this comprehensive dataset serves as one of the most critical barometers for understanding the financial well-being of households across the United States.

The newly published data provide a deeply representative picture of what Americans own, how and how much they borrow, and how they interact with banking institutions. By examining these core pillars of personal finance, the survey illuminates the broader trends shaping the nation’s economy from the ground up. The current version of the survey has been undertaken every three years since 1989, establishing an extensive and invaluable time series of thorough information on the economic conditions of American families over several decades. This long-standing historical context allows economists and policy advisors to track generational shifts, evaluate the long-term impact of previous economic shocks, and measure how household resilience has evolved through changing macroeconomic environments.

Alongside the raw survey data, the Board issued a comprehensive summary report entitled Changes in U.S. Family Finances from 2022 to 2025. This accompanying document closely examines the notable shifts in income, net worth, assets, debt, and overall financial vulnerability that have occurred over the three-year period between the last administration of the survey and the current release. By breaking down these metrics, the report provides crucial context for understanding how households have navigated the financial landscape leading up to 2026.

The release of the Survey of Consumer Finances is a landmark event for financial analysts and government officials alike. Because the survey captures granular details about household balance sheets—distinguishing between various types of debt, such as mortgages, student loans, and credit cards, alongside diverse asset classes like housing equities, retirement accounts, and business investments—it allows for a nuanced evaluation of wealth distribution and economic security across different demographic segments.

In addition to the summary report, the Federal Reserve Board has made a variety of interactive tools available to the public to help interpret the complex data. An interactive chartbook displaying changes in these financial characteristics over time has been published online, allowing users to visualize trends and trace how specific economic indicators have shifted across multiple survey cycles. Furthermore, extensive supplementary data from the survey, including specialized metrics examining other facets of the economic conditions of American families, is made available to academic researchers, financial institutions, and the broader public through the Federal Reserve’s official research portals.

The rigorous methodology behind the survey ensures its accuracy and reliability as a national benchmark. The survey is conducted for the Board by NORC, a premier social science research organization at the University of Chicago. To achieve a sample that accurately mirrors the demographic and economic diversity of the United States, participants in the study are chosen at random from 119 geographic areas. This carefully designed framework encompasses a diverse mix of densely populated metropolitan areas and rural counties across the country, utilizing scientific sampling procedures specifically aimed at producing a sample that is genuinely representative of American families.

As policymakers digest the findings of the 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances, the data will undoubtedly inform ongoing discussions regarding fiscal policy, banking regulations, consumer protection, and broader economic strategies. The comprehensive insights provided by the survey ensure that public decisions continue to be grounded in robust, empirically verified observations of how American households live, save, borrow, and plan for the future.

For media inquiries regarding the 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances, members of the press are encouraged to email [email protected] or call the Federal Reserve Board’s media relations office at (202) 452-2955.