Margin test

In honor of Earth Day, Experian Automotive released findings from an analysis comparing electric and hybrid* vehicles. Findings from the analysis showed that in 2013, more than 45 percent of hybrid car buyers were 56 years old or older, while roughly 26 percent of electric car buyers were of the same age. The greater percentage (55 percent) of electric buyers were between the ages of 36 years old and 55 years old. Additionally, nearly 21 percent of consumers purchasing an electric car had an average household income of $175,000 or more. Conversely, only 12 percent of consumers purchasing a hybrid had an average household income of the same level.

The Information Age transformed our way of life. It gives us new ways to communicate, have instant access to resources and the power to share information freely. Unfortunately the luxuries of this new age pose unique threats to consumers that were unconceivable in years past. It opens doors for thieves to capitalize on unsuspecting and innocent consumers. Fraud and identity theft is a booming business. Fraud and identity theft are important concerns for people today. Understanding the tools available to help you prevent fraud and recover from it can help you reduce concerns about your personal information being compromised.

More than 20 years ago, Experian became the first credit bureau to create a consumer education program. We started the program because we wanted to arm consumers with the right information and resources to help them understand the fundamentals of credit management and the benefits of having good credit.

Getting a copy of your credit report is the easiest first step to take control of your finances. A personal credit report contains details about your financial behavior and identification information. It is an easy-to-read summary of your credit accounts and total debt—both existing balances and available limits. Under federal law you are entitled to a copy of your credit report every twelve months. To obtain your credit report go to www.annualcreditreport.com.

Did you know that April is the official month for promoting financial literacy? Being aware of your credit and where you stand is important all year long, but the next 30 days will be dedicated specifically to educating consumers on all aspects of personal finance from managing your credit, paying off debt and saving for your first home or child’s secondary education to how to invest and plan well for retirement. We know how these topics can be overwhelming and intimidating. It’s one of the reasons that our weekly #CreditChat on twitter and Ask Experian column focuses on these subjects all year round. We want to give consumers the right resources and access to experts in an effort to help consumers change their financial behavior – that is part of our commitment. Join us all month long in our special Google+ hangouts, tweet chats (#CreditChat), and visit our blog for some exciting new resources created just for you!