Question

Consumer Research, Inc., is an independent agency that conducts research on consumer attitudes and behaviors for a variety of firms. In one study, a client asked for an investigation of consumer characteristics that can be used to predict the amount charged by credit card users. Data were collected on an annual income, household size, and annual credit card charges for a sample of 50 consumers. The following data are contained in the file below.

Income ($1000s)	Household Size	Amount Charged ($)
54	3	4,016
30	2	3,159
32	4	5,100
50	5	4,742
31	2	1,864
55	2	4,070
37	1	2,731
40	2	3,348
66	4	4,764
51	3	4,110
25	3	4,208
48	4	4,219
27	1	2,477
33	2	2,514
65	3	4,214
63	4	4,965
42	6	4,412
21	2	2,448
44	1	2,995
37	5	4,171
62	6	5,678
21	3	3,623
55	7	5,301
42	2	3,020
41	7	4,828
54	6	5,573
30	1	2,583
48	2	3,866
34	5	3,586
67	4	5,037
50	2	3,605
67	5	5,345
55	6	5,370
52	2	3,890
62	3	4,705
64	2	4,157
22	3	3,579
29	4	3,890
39	2	2,972
35	1	3,121
39	4	4,183
54	3	3,730
23	6	4,127
27	2	2,921
26	7	4,603
61	2	4,273
30	2	3,067
22	4	3,074
46	5	4,820
66	4	5,149

Managerial report:

1) Use methods of descriptive statistics to summarize the data. Comment on the findings

2) Develop estimated regression equations, first using annual income as the independent variable and then using household size as the independent variable. Which variable is the better predictor of annual credit card charges? Discuss your findings.

3) Develop an estimated regression equation with annual income and household size as independent variables. Discuss your findings.

4) What is the predicted annual credit card charge for a three-person household with an annual income of $40,000?

5) Discuss the need for other independent variables that could be added to the model. What additional variables might be helpful?

Answer 1