2024-22491. Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

1. [Docket No. CFPB-2024-0049]

AGENCY:

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comment.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) requests the revision of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) approval for an existing information collection titled “Making Ends Meet Survey” approved under OMB Number 3170-0080.

DATES:

Written comments are encouraged and must be received on or before October 31, 2024 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function. In general, all comments received will become public records, including any personal information provided. Sensitive personal information, such as account numbers or Social Security numbers, should not be included.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information should be directed to Anthony May, Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, at [phone], or email: [e-mail]. If you require this document in an alternative electronic format, please contact [e-mail]. Please do not submit comments to these email boxes.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title of Collection: Making Ends Meet Survey.

OMB Control Number: 3170-0080.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,500.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,060.

Abstract: The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act charges the CFPB with researching, analyzing, and reporting on topics relating to the Bureau's mission including consumer behavior, consumer awareness, and developments in markets for consumer financial products and services. To improve its understanding of how consumers engage with financial markets, the CFPB has successfully used surveys under its “Making Ends Meet” program. The “Making Ends Meet” program has also used the CFPB's Consumer Credit Information Panel (CCIP) as a frame to survey people about their experiences in consumer credit markets. The CFPB seeks approval for two yearly surveys under the “Making Ends Meet” program. These surveys solicit information on the consumer's experience related to household financial shocks, particularly shocks related to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, how households respond to those shocks, and the role of savings to help provide a financial buffer.

The first survey will be a follow-up to respondents from the CFPB's 2024 “Making Ends Meet” survey to better understand household financial experiences dealing with medical debt as well as consumers' interactions with various financial products. The second survey will go to a new sample of consumers from the CCIP and will address several topics of interest to the CFPB, possibly including the impact of natural disasters and other environmental events, credit shopping behavior, additional follow-up regarding debt collection, and the assessment of various fees throughout the financial services ecosystem.

Request for Comments: The CFPB published a 60-day Federal Register notice on March 26, 2024 (89 FR 20950) under Docket Number: CFPB-2024-0013. The CFPB is publishing this notice and soliciting comments on: (a) Whether the collection of information is ( print page 79901) necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the CFPB, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) The accuracy of the CFPB's estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the validity of the methods and the assumptions used; (c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be reviewed by OMB as part of its review of this request. All comments will become a matter of public record.

Anthony May,

Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.