Consumer Edge: Credit and Debit Card Data for Economic and Business Research
Consumer Edge provides researchers with a uniquely structured panel of anonymized credit and debit card transactions from over 100 million U.S. cardholders. This dataset captures actual consumer spending across more than 13,000 merchants, offering detailed views at the brand, category, and even store-location level. Unlike aggregated or survey-based data sources, this panel reflects real, high-frequency purchasing behavior across a wide cross-section of U.S. households.
For academic researchers, this means access to a consistent, longitudinal dataset that supports robust analysis of consumption trends over time. Through Dewey Data, this transaction-level information, originally built for financial markets, is now accessible to scholars exploring questions in economics, marketing, finance, and beyond.
Why Consumer Edge Data Matters to Academics
Consumer Edge's dataset is a treasure trove for academic researchers, offering:
- Comprehensive Coverage: Data spans from January 1, 2014, with consistent year-over-year information starting in 2019, allowing for longitudinal studies across pre- and post-COVID periods.
- Granular Insights: Researchers can analyze data at various levels, from broad industry categories down to specific merchants or store locations, facilitating detailed studies on consumer behavior.
- Flexible Categorization: With over 130 sub-industries rolled into 30 broader industries, the datasets support diverse research angles, from market share analysis to consumer loyalty studies.
Linking Transactions to Tickers: Connecting Consumer Spending to Public Companies
One of the most valuable aspects of the Consumer Edge dataset—especially for researchers in finance and corporate strategy—is the mapping of consumer transaction data to publicly traded companies via stock ticker-level tagging. This feature was originally developed to serve hedge funds and institutional investors looking to model company performance using real-time consumer behavior.
Each merchant in the dataset is mapped to a ticker symbol when applicable, allowing researchers to link spending directly to firm-level outcomes. This enables analyses such as forecasting earnings based on consumer sales at firms like Home Depot or Starbucks, measuring the impact of events like product launches or M&A announcements, or estimating how revenues respond to macroeconomic shocks. In short, it creates a direct bridge between micro-level spending and macro-level financial indicators—making it possible to study how consumer behavior moves the market.
Other Applications in Academic Research
The depth and breadth of Consumer Edge's data enables a wide array of research applications:
- Behavioral Economics: Examine how consumers adjust spending in response to economic changes or policy shifts.
- Marketing Studies: Analyze the effectiveness of marketing campaigns by tracking changes in consumer spending patterns.
- Urban Planning: Assess how infrastructure developments influence local consumer behavior.
- Finance and Investment: Study the impact of mergers, acquisitions, or other corporate actions on consumer spending and company performance.
Accessing Consumer Edge Data via Dewey
Dewey Data serves as a bridge between data providers like Consumer Edge and the academic community. By subscribing to Dewey, researchers gain streamlined access to Consumer Edge's datasets, along with support for data integration and analysis. Visit app.deweydata.io with your university email to explore available datasets and subscribe to unlock full access.
For a deeper understanding of how Consumer Edge data can enhance your research, watch the Dewey Data Partner Spotlight featuring Stacie Rabinowitz, VP of Client Solutions at Consumer Edge: