Reports

This report provides new insights on how price complexity may affect markets for consumer goods. We report on two laboratory experiments that investigated the effects of price complexity on market outcomes.

Medical collections on consumer credit reports have been an area of focus for CFPB research in recent years. In addition to studying trends in medical debt as a whole, CFPB reports have documented the burden of medical debt on older Americans, and the incidence of medical collections in rural counties in Appalachia and the Deep South region.

Overdraft/NSF revenue for the full year of 2023 was approximately $6.1 billion lower than before the pandemic, and 24% lower than in 2022. However, quarterly overdraft/NSF fees were flat throughout 2023, suggesting most of the year-over-year reduction reflects the impact of changes in policy enacted in 2022.

The FY 2023 OMWI annual report to Congress provides detailed information about the diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) work of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from Oct. 1 2022 to Sept. 30 2023.

Rising interest rates have created a challenging housing environment for borrowers. New research using HMDA quarterly data reveals more borrowers are relying on discount points.

This report explores the differences across neighborhoods in the number of mortgage lenders originating loans, investigates the neighborhood-level correlates of this measure, and explores its associations with consumer-level outcomes.

This report provides new insights about consumers’ experiences with overdraft and NSF fees, and paints a broad picture of the financial circumstances of these consumers.

The annual Making Ends Meet survey report highlights new trends in household financial stability.

CFPB recently analyzed the NSF fee practices of a number of banks and credit unions, finding that most large earners of NSF fee revenue have eliminated these fees, saving consumers nearly $2 billion annually.

This Bureau Data Point article describes 2022 mortgage market activity and trends using data reported under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Overdraft/NSF revenue for the fourth quarter of 2022 alone was approximately $1.5 billion lower than in the fourth quarter of 2019 – a decrease of 48% compared to before the pandemic, suggesting an annual reduction of over $5.5 billion going forward. This decrease suggests average annual savings of more than $150 per household that incurs overdraft or NSF fees; many households have saved much more.

This report documents research findings on the impact of PACE financing on consumer financial outcomes from 2014 through 2020.

We study removals of medical collections from credit reports that occurred between 2012-2020 and find associated increases in credit score and credit availability.

This staff report provides a window into the financial circumstances faced by customers of Southern Bancorp Bank, a CDFI that serves some of the most economically underserved areas in the United States.

The 2022 Financial Literacy Annual Report of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is required under Section 1013 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

This report contains the findings of the Bureau’s voluntary review of the final rule on the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act the Bureau issued in October 2015 (2015 HMDA Final Rule) and related amendments (collectively, the HMDA Rule).

This report explores the consumer financial profiles of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) borrowers using the Bureau’s Making Ends Meet survey and its association with credit bureau data.

This report provides an overview of the trends in third-party debt collections tradelines on consumer credit reports from 2018 to 2022.

Since late 2021, several banks have announced changes to their overdraft programs that have been expected to result in reductions in overdraft/non-sufficient fund (NSF) fee revenue.

The annual Making Ends Meet survey report shows how consumers’ finances changed from 2021 to 2022.

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) gives servicemembers on active duty the right to request interest rate reductions on outstanding loans during the time they are activated and for an additional year in the case of mortgages. However, according to the CFPB’s research, only small fractions of activated Guard and Reserve servicemembers receive interest rate reductions.

This report provides new insights into the automated saving rules consumers use (e.g., save on payday or with each purchase) and how these rules relate to the amount saved.

This bulletin outlines difficulties prospective renters encountered in connection with a landlord’s use of a tenant screening report, based on complaints submitted to the CFPB and CFPB-commissioned qualitative research.

Each year, millions of consumers encounter tenant screening as a gateway in their path to rental housing.

This Bureau Data Point article describes 2021 mortgage market activity and trends using data reported under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).