Each year, the U.S. News money team conducts regular surveys focusing on a range of financial topics. These surveys help inform our reporting and gauge the financial health, habits and attitudes of Americans from year to year.

We ask savers to reveal their emergency fund balance. We ask homebuyers what mortgage rate they’re waiting for. We ask engaged couples how they’re paying for their wedding.

We’re downright nosy. And while America’s responses to some of our questions simply confirm what we already suspected, others generate a stronger reaction. It’s those answers that tell a larger story, signal a shift in sentiment or simply catch us completely by surprise.