OREANDA-NEWS. From 4 March until 16 June, Eesti Pank and Statistics Estonia will be carrying out a survey to collect information on the assets, liabilities, income and expenses of Estonian households. Similar surveys are run by the central banks of all the euro area countries and are coordinated by the European Central Bank (ECB).

The Estonian Household Finance and Consumption Survey, HFCS, is carried out regularly every three years in the countries of the euro area. Estonia is participating in the project for the first time. The research aims to collect internationally comparable data from all the euro area countries. Central banks use the data in their economic policy analysis, for assessing the impact of monetary policy, analysing financial stability and payment systems, and much more. Scientific researchers can also use the data.

The interviews in Estonia will cover 4000 households, who have been selected at random using data from the 2011 census. The interviews will be carried out face to face, but the data will be collected and processed only in generalised and anonymised form. Eesti Pank and Statistics Estonia ensure that the data of survey participants are protected and protect the anonymity of the participants.

The questions are presented in two groups, firstly questions on the household as a whole, and then questions for each individual member of the household. The questions in the survey on the household as a whole are answered by the person who knows the family finances best and the individual part of the survey is answered by all members of the household who are at least 16 years old.

The results of the survey will be published on the Eesti Pank website.