Heath Witzen
@bhwitzen.bsky.social
Economist studying consumer finance, small business lending, rental housing, and discrimination
All opinions are my own and do not necessarily represent my employer.
All opinions are my own and do not necessarily represent my employer.
Pinned
Heath Witzen
@bhwitzen.bsky.social
· Jan 28
Behind on Rent? Examining Rental Housing Delinquencies in New Payment Data | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Report provides insights on rental housing payment delinquencies using new payment data.
www.consumerfinance.gov
Check out this short report examining payment delinquencies in new rental housing payment data
This Axios piece cites my report from January on Rental Housing delinquencies using payment data
Shutdown threatens financial emergency for millions living paycheck to paycheck
About 40% of Americans report having no spare savings and living paycheck to paycheck.
www.axios.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:05 AM
This Axios piece cites my report from January on Rental Housing delinquencies using payment data
Reposted by Heath Witzen
Your daily reminder that US economic data is of extremely high quality even when compared to other advanced nations and the envy of the world
Exclusive: The White House is preparing a report laying out alleged shortcomings of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ jobs data, five weeks after President Trump fired the chief of the agency
White House Prepares Report Critical of Statistics Agency
The assessment would follow President Trump’s firing of the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
on.wsj.com
September 9, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Your daily reminder that US economic data is of extremely high quality even when compared to other advanced nations and the envy of the world
Reposted by Heath Witzen
This action by Lisa Cook is courageous, principled, and deserves broad support.
Just received this statement from Lisa Cook:
"President Trump purported to fire me 'for cause' when no cause exists under the law, and he has no authority to do so. I will not resign. I will continue to carry out my duties to help the American economy as I have been doing since 2022."
"President Trump purported to fire me 'for cause' when no cause exists under the law, and he has no authority to do so. I will not resign. I will continue to carry out my duties to help the American economy as I have been doing since 2022."
President Trump said he is firing Lisa Cook, a Federal Reserve governor, "effective immediately." It's his most direct assault yet on Fed independence -- and a step that it is far from clear he can legally take.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/u... #EconSky
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/u... #EconSky
August 26, 2025 at 3:08 AM
This action by Lisa Cook is courageous, principled, and deserves broad support.
As someone who's been to Cracker Barrel a ton and whose mom would make him chicken and dumplin's for his birthday, I've never felt so qualified to comment on something in my life. And even I don't care
August 22, 2025 at 2:55 AM
As someone who's been to Cracker Barrel a ton and whose mom would make him chicken and dumplin's for his birthday, I've never felt so qualified to comment on something in my life. And even I don't care
Reposted by Heath Witzen
It has been the honor of my life to serve as Commissioner of BLS alongside the many dedicated civil servants tasked with measuring a vast and dynamic economy. It is vital and important work and I thank them for their service to this nation.
August 2, 2025 at 2:18 AM
It has been the honor of my life to serve as Commissioner of BLS alongside the many dedicated civil servants tasked with measuring a vast and dynamic economy. It is vital and important work and I thank them for their service to this nation.
Check out this short report examining payment delinquencies in new rental housing payment data
Behind on Rent? Examining Rental Housing Delinquencies in New Payment Data | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Report provides insights on rental housing payment delinquencies using new payment data.
www.consumerfinance.gov
January 28, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Check out this short report examining payment delinquencies in new rental housing payment data
Check out our short report on self-identified business owners in the CFPB Making Ends Meet survey.
We find business owners are much more likely to report having income that varies month-to-month and experiencing a drop in income in the previous 12 months
We find business owners are much more likely to report having income that varies month-to-month and experiencing a drop in income in the previous 12 months
The Financial Security of Small Business Owners: Evidence from the Making Ends Meet Survey | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
This report provides new insights about the financial security of small business owners using questions about business ownership in the Making Ends Meet Survey.
www.consumerfinance.gov
January 3, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Check out our short report on self-identified business owners in the CFPB Making Ends Meet survey.
We find business owners are much more likely to report having income that varies month-to-month and experiencing a drop in income in the previous 12 months
We find business owners are much more likely to report having income that varies month-to-month and experiencing a drop in income in the previous 12 months
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
December 26, 2024 at 1:00 AM
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
Reposted by Heath Witzen
New Business Applications increased in November 2024 remaining at high levels relative to 2019. Applications in November 2024 for likely employers 46% higher than average month in 2019.
December 11, 2024 at 3:57 PM
New Business Applications increased in November 2024 remaining at high levels relative to 2019. Applications in November 2024 for likely employers 46% higher than average month in 2019.
Working paper on search frictions in the small business lending market. I provide evidence that costly search leads borrowers to accept higher interest rates on loans and lines of credit. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Search Frictions in Small Business Lending Markets
This paper demonstrates how search frictions can result in small business loan applicants paying higher interest rates on business credit products. I use small
papers.ssrn.com
October 8, 2024 at 2:11 AM
Working paper on search frictions in the small business lending market. I provide evidence that costly search leads borrowers to accept higher interest rates on loans and lines of credit. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Working paper! papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Mortgage Lender Misclassification of Applicant Race and Ethnicity: Evidence from HMDA Data
Researchers often use an applicant’s self-identification of race or ethnicity when studying discrimination in credit markets. For some applications, a lender’s
papers.ssrn.com
December 29, 2023 at 2:30 PM
Working paper! papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....