![“The data collection environment is getting more difficult, and any answer will require more resources.” -Joanne Hsu, Surveys of Consumers, Survey Research Center “The whole point of the [BLS] revisions is to improve the survey estimates.” -Brady West, Program in Survey and Data Science, Survey Research Center Financial Times | August 14, 2025](https://api.isr.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Hsu-West-FT-1568x882.png)
EJ Antoni, Bureau of Labor Statistics nominee, has suggested that the BLS suspend its monthly job reports, citing flawed data. Joanne Hsu & Brady West argue that while data collection is more difficult, the answer is more resources, not less data. Read more at the Financial Times Unhedged newsletter.
Project: SRC
Care beyond kin: U-M study urges rethink as nontraditional caregivers step up in dementia care
ANN ARBOR—Friends, ex-spouses and neighbors are playing a growing role in caring for older adults with dementia—yet surveys and policies still act as if only spouses and children matter. A new University of Michigan study, supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health, reveals how outdated definitions of “family” leave caregivers… Continue reading Care beyond kin: U-M study urges rethink as nontraditional caregivers step up in dementia care
Sentiment inches up, consumers remain downbeat
ANN ARBOR—Consumer sentiment improved for the second time in six months, inching up less than 2% from last month, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. It remains about 17% below December 2024, when sentiment had exhibited a post-election bump. Current conditions rose about 5% to its highest reading since February 2025, while… Continue reading Sentiment inches up, consumers remain downbeat
Dementia’s broad reach: 1 in 4 families of older adults at risk for providing care
ANN ARBOR—About 26% of both households and immediate families of older adults include an individual with dementia—often requiring relatives to step into unexpected caregiving roles, according to a new University of Michigan study. This figure rises to 37% among extended families of adults 65 and older, the research shows. Overall, about 21% of older adults… Continue reading Dementia’s broad reach: 1 in 4 families of older adults at risk for providing care
HPD Announces Historic Partnership with University of Michigan to Complete the 2026 New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey
New partnership underscores HPD’s commitment to high-quality data collection, privacy protection, and fairness. For years, the New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey has informed the work of the City of New York and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development: to ensure that each and every New Yorker has a safe, affordable place to… Continue reading HPD Announces Historic Partnership with University of Michigan to Complete the 2026 New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey
Sentiment up for the first time this year, consumers remain guarded
ANN ARBOR—Consumer sentiment improved for the first time in six months, climbing 16% from last month but remaining about 18% below December 2024, when sentiment had exhibited a post-election bump. These trends were unanimously visible across age, income, wealth, political party and geographic region. Improvements in June were seen across multiple dimensions of the economy,… Continue reading Sentiment up for the first time this year, consumers remain guarded
Cheers or cheers-ious consequences? How older couples’ drinking habits affect health
ANN ARBOR—Older couples may want to take a closer look at their drinking habits together. While most research focuses on how your drinking affects your health, a University of Michigan study shows that a partner’s drinking habits matter, too. It underscores that it’s not just how much alcohol is consumed, but how couples drink—similarly or… Continue reading Cheers or cheers-ious consequences? How older couples’ drinking habits affect health
International Research Hub to be created at the Institute for Social Research
Contact: Jon Meerdink ([email protected]) ANN ARBOR — The Institute for Social Research’s (ISR) Survey Research Center (SRC) and Population Studies Center (PSC) are teaming up to launch the International Research Hub, a new resource that will support and expand social research worldwide. Sited at PSC, the Hub will support University of Michigan faculty and staff… Continue reading International Research Hub to be created at the Institute for Social Research
Older Americans living alone often rely on neighbors or others willing to help
In 2015, the latest year for which reliable estimates are available, millions of older Americans didn’t have close family and lived alone. Most lived alone. By 2060, that number is expected to swell to 21 million. In addition, millions of seniors who do have children don’t live geographically close to them, or have complicated relationships, making… Continue reading Older Americans living alone often rely on neighbors or others willing to help
1 in 4 kids live with parents who have alcohol, other drug problems, U-M study finds
Updated estimates point to need for more treatment ANN ARBOR—A large percentage of American children are growing up in households with at least one parent who uses alcohol or other drugs in problematic ways—raising the risk that those children will go on to do the same, a new study suggests. Using data from 2023 to give… Continue reading 1 in 4 kids live with parents who have alcohol, other drug problems, U-M study finds