Research & Data

Our own analysis of short-term loan costs and borrower behaviour.

What Borrowers Wish They Had Known: The Cheaper Options They Found Too Late
Most borrowers learn about cheaper options only after they have already overpaid.
Who Knows About the Cheaper Option — and Who Does Not
Awareness of low-cost alternatives tracks income almost perfectly. The people who need them most know least.
Who Borrows: Employment Behind Short-Term Loans
The picture of a payday borrower as jobless is wrong. Most are working when they borrow.
The Cost of Not Knowing: Awareness and What Borrowers Pay
In states where fewer borrowers know about credit-union loans, the fees paid run higher.

How we work with data

  • We run the numbers ourselves and show the work — the table and the dataset are open.
  • Only states with enough responses are included; below that the share swings on noise.
  • We refresh as new data arrives and print the date on the page.