Welcome to the Office of Consumer Research (OCR)

The Marketing Department at Middle Tennessee State University received funding from an MTSU Technology Access Fee grant to create the Office of Consumer Research. The Office of Consumer Research uses online surveys to conduct the Tennessee Consumer Outlook Index Survey.  These surveys are conducted through out the year (Winter, Spring, Fall) to measure consumers' perceptions of economic conditions in the country as a whole as well as in Tennessee. Similar consumer confidence surveys conducted by the Conference Board and the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan have been shown to be very predictive of key economic indicators such as inflation, interest rates and consumer spending.

The Office of Consumer Research also conducts the Tennessee Business Barometer Survey. This survey measures the perceptions of Tennessee Business Leaders regarding the economy as well as issues that are of most importance to them. These surveys are through out the year (January, May, September) in cooperation with the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Results from these surveys are disseminated to local news media. Please click on the links above to read the reports.

We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions. Please contact Dr. Michael Peasley for more information.​

 

Contact Us

We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.

 

Michael Peasley, Ph.D.
Director, MTSU Office of Consumer Research
Office: 615.494.8992
Email: michael.peasley@mtsu.edu