The index is based on the following five questions:

"We are interested in how people are getting along financially these days.  Would you say that you (and your family living there) are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?"

"Now looking ahead--do you think that a year from now you (and your family living there) will be better off financially, or worse off, or just about the same as now?"

"Now turning to business conditions in the country as a whole--do you think that during the next twelve months we'll have good times financially, or bad times, or what?"

"Looking ahead, which would you say is more likely--that in the country as a whole we'll have continuous good times during the next five years or so, or that we will have periods of widespread unemployment or depression, or what?"

"About the big things people buy for their homes--such as furniture, a refrigerator, stove, television, and things like that.  Generally speaking, do you think now is a good or bad time for people to buy major household items?"