Title: CredAbility Consumer Distress Index for Employment (DISCONTINUED) Series ID: CCDIEMQ156N Source: CredAbility Nonprofit Credit Counseling & Education Release: CredAbility Consumer Distress Index (Not a Press Release) Seasonal Adjustment: Not Seasonally Adjusted Frequency: Quarterly Units: Percent Date Range: 1980-01-01 to 2013-01-01 Last Updated: 2013-05-17 1:18 PM CDT Notes: Overview of the Index The Index is a quarterly comprehensive picture of the average American household’s financial condition. Built by assessing the key elements of financial health and distress, it converts a complex set of factors into a single, easy to understand number. Scope and History The index measures the U.S., all 50 states and more than 70 MSAs. The national and state versions date back to 1980 and the MSA versions date back to 1990. Public Data and Proprietary Methodology We use more than 65 data points from government, public and private data and a proprietary methodology for compiling, combining and evaluating data. With nearly 50 years of experience and insight into helping consumers in financial distress, we know the biggest causes of distress, how people react to financial challenges and proven strategies for regaining control. (Note: Our client data is not a data source for the Index) Measured on a 100 Point Scale Financial distress is measured on a 100 point scale and a score under 70 indicates financial distress. The lower the score equals more distress, a weaker financial position, more urgency to act, takes longer and is harder to resolve, and increases the probability of needing a third party help to resolve. The Index score is tied to one of 5 general rating categories, which reflect the strength and stability of the consumer’s position. Less than 60 Emergency / Crisis 60 – 69 Distressed / Unstable 70 – 79 Weakening / At-Risk 80 – 89 Good / Stable 90 and Above Excellent / Secure What Does the Index Measure? We measure the 5 categories of personal finance that reflect or lead to a secure, stable financial life—Employment, Housing, Credit, Household Budget and Net Worth. All are equally important, so have given each category equal weighting. Employment. Stable income is the foundation of any family’s finances. This category measures the impact of unemployment and underemployment on financial health. Key Measures: Unemployment, Underemployment Sample Data Source: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Housing. Safe, affordable housing is a priority for all families. This category measures how consumers are paying their mortgage/rent and the impact of housing costs on their finances. Key Measures: Mortgage and Rental Delinquencies, Housing as Percent of Budget Sample Data Source: National Delinquency Survey Credit. Responsible use of credit creates more borrowing options and lower costs. This category assesses the strength of credit scores and how well families manage their credit. Key Measures: Credit Scores, Trade Line Utilization, Credit Delinquencies, Per Capita Bankruptcies Sample Data Source: National Credit Bureau Household Budget. Spending less than you make is the daily choice that leads to long-term success. This category measures families’ spending patterns and saving for emergencies. Key Measures: Disposable Income, Savings, Consumer Confidence Sample Data Source: Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis Net Worth. Strong, positive net worth creates options and independence. This category measures how well consumers are strengthening their personal balance sheets. Key Measures: Household Net Worth, Net Worth versus Funds Required for Long-Term Needs (e.g. retirement) Sample Data Source: Federal Reserve Flow of Funds, Survey of Consumer Finances DATE VALUE 1980-01-01 81.731739963910 1980-04-01 69.498764284903 1980-07-01 67.411054338263 1980-10-01 69.267600813613 1981-01-01 68.984233085576 1981-04-01 69.778500736582 1981-07-01 68.005810227549 1981-10-01 60.871237608523 1982-01-01 57.492769520950 1982-04-01 53.602033407027 1982-07-01 51.311432372906 1982-10-01 47.887417291158 1983-01-01 49.150942048369 1983-04-01 50.847471622711 1983-07-01 53.662232670384 1983-10-01 57.550436899073 1984-01-01 61.270824332520 1984-04-01 64.225481353230 1984-07-01 64.416034402143 1984-10-01 65.022619797235 1985-01-01 66.512679579251 1985-04-01 65.316672570367 1985-07-01 66.229240826468 1985-10-01 68.107179667860 1986-01-01 68.295969871736 1986-04-01 66.270446745807 1986-07-01 68.833330021535 1986-10-01 69.147926838683 1987-01-01 71.501399261897 1987-04-01 74.854510617874 1987-07-01 76.808913566620 1987-10-01 78.246492511933 1988-01-01 80.131741501172 1988-04-01 83.378481021462 1988-07-01 82.729857326115 1988-10-01 84.909535392659 1989-01-01 87.645457509368 1989-04-01 87.182996984489 1989-07-01 88.024467803243 1989-10-01 87.076501340338 1990-01-01 87.791752316515 1990-04-01 85.871835470602 1990-07-01 80.885043529519 1990-10-01 76.062860679209 1991-01-01 71.292533420200 1991-04-01 68.560596205942 1991-07-01 67.875634366343 1991-10-01 65.831378380475 1992-01-01 64.068533774932 1992-04-01 63.108689197975 1992-07-01 63.134802069689 1992-10-01 64.353127985949 1993-01-01 66.285635172471 1993-04-01 65.978214956988 1993-07-01 67.468961148957 1993-10-01 69.870228657146 1994-01-01 78.023236879024 1994-04-01 80.867443657258 1994-07-01 85.785287171749 1994-10-01 88.656926340857 1995-01-01 90.455337814123 1995-04-01 88.424688788297 1995-07-01 88.144616189407 1995-10-01 89.609387667078 1996-01-01 91.485381268313 1996-04-01 91.068633663182 1996-07-01 93.749753532633 1996-10-01 94.196620429899 1997-01-01 96.192357769539 1997-04-01 99.254876261732 1997-07-01 100.000000000000 1997-10-01 100.000000000000 1998-01-01 100.000000000000 1998-04-01 100.000000000000 1998-07-01 100.000000000000 1998-10-01 100.000000000000 1999-01-01 100.000000000000 1999-04-01 100.000000000000 1999-07-01 100.000000000000 1999-10-01 100.000000000000 2000-01-01 100.000000000000 2000-04-01 100.000000000000 2000-07-01 100.000000000000 2000-10-01 100.000000000000 2001-01-01 100.000000000000 2001-04-01 100.000000000000 2001-07-01 100.000000000000 2001-10-01 94.300436522428 2002-01-01 92.631578947368 2002-04-01 91.428571428571 2002-07-01 92.325581395349 2002-10-01 91.136363636364 2003-01-01 88.448107361014 2003-04-01 86.846661244845 2003-07-01 86.544854011320 2003-10-01 87.974100049136 2004-01-01 90.278810335061 2004-04-01 92.437799219847 2004-07-01 94.827812826048 2004-10-01 93.523624906012 2005-01-01 96.603773584906 2005-04-01 98.823529411765 2005-07-01 99.728963283108 2005-10-01 100.000000000000 2006-01-01 100.000000000000 2006-04-01 100.000000000000 2006-07-01 100.000000000000 2006-10-01 100.000000000000 2007-01-01 100.000000000000 2007-04-01 100.000000000000 2007-07-01 100.000000000000 2007-10-01 100.000000000000 2008-01-01 98.068752580143 2008-04-01 91.381321122060 2008-07-01 80.559130412258 2008-10-01 68.618930789401 2009-01-01 58.287297081656 2009-04-01 53.015911596302 2009-07-01 51.574912032087 2009-10-01 50.294793675269 2010-01-01 52.032352160882 2010-04-01 52.071999229961 2010-07-01 51.965845174057 2010-10-01 51.634399924378 2011-01-01 55.703905261137 2011-04-01 54.387904273029 2011-07-01 53.819879446087 2011-10-01 56.338366378971 2012-01-01 59.396076019552 2012-04-01 59.826828409299 2012-07-01 59.559720577494 2012-10-01 61.265266562973 2013-01-01 62.534524011987