The study “Private households and their finances” commissioned by the Deutsche Bundesbank is based on a survey of the income and asset situation of private households in Germany. It covers detailed information on the structure of household assets and debt. Other topics include the intergenerational transfer of wealth as well as income and pension entitlements of all household members. The survey is part of a larger survey project for the entire euro area called the Household Finance and Consumption Survey (HFCS). Similar surveys are conducted in all euro area countries. The survey data therefore allow internationally comparable analyses of the financial situation of households in the euro area countries.