diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/CsvReader.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/CsvReader.hs
index 6357a9ca0..c1cb9ac5a 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/CsvReader.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/CsvReader.hs
@@ -11,17 +11,17 @@ A reader for CSV data, using an extra rules file to help interpret the data.
 -- stack haddock hledger-lib --fast --no-haddock-deps --haddock-arguments='--ignore-all-exports' --open
 
 --- ** language
-{-# LANGUAGE FlexibleContexts #-}
-{-# LANGUAGE FlexibleInstances #-}
-{-# LANGUAGE MultiWayIf #-}
-{-# LANGUAGE NamedFieldPuns #-}
-{-# LANGUAGE OverloadedStrings #-}
-{-# LANGUAGE PackageImports #-}
-{-# LANGUAGE RecordWildCards #-}
-{-# LANGUAGE ScopedTypeVariables #-}
-{-# LANGUAGE TypeFamilies #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE FlexibleContexts     #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE FlexibleInstances    #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE MultiWayIf           #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE NamedFieldPuns       #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE OverloadedStrings    #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE PackageImports       #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE RecordWildCards      #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE ScopedTypeVariables  #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE TypeFamilies         #-}
 {-# LANGUAGE TypeSynonymInstances #-}
-{-# LANGUAGE ViewPatterns #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE ViewPatterns         #-}
 
 --- ** exports
 module Hledger.Read.CsvReader (
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ import Control.Monad.Trans.Class  (lift)
 import Data.Char                  (toLower, isDigit, isSpace, isAlphaNum, isAscii, ord)
 import Data.Bifunctor             (first)
 import "base-compat-batteries" Data.List.Compat
-import qualified Data.List.Split as LS (splitOn)
 import Data.Maybe (catMaybes, fromMaybe, isJust)
 import Data.MemoUgly (memo)
 import Data.Ord (comparing)
@@ -61,6 +60,8 @@ import Data.Text (Text)
 import qualified Data.Text as T
 import qualified Data.Text.Encoding as T
 import qualified Data.Text.IO as T
+import qualified Data.Text.Lazy as TL
+import qualified Data.Text.Lazy.Builder as TB
 import Data.Time.Calendar (Day)
 import Data.Time.Format (parseTimeM, defaultTimeLocale)
 import Safe (atMay, headMay, lastMay, readDef, readMay)
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ import Hledger.Read.Common (aliasesFromOpts,  Reader(..),InputOpts(..), amountp,
 
 type CSV       = [CsvRecord]
 type CsvRecord = [CsvValue]
-type CsvValue  = String
+type CsvValue  = Text
 
 --- ** reader
 
@@ -164,7 +165,7 @@ defaultRulesText csvfile = T.pack $ unlines
   ," account2 assets:bank:savings\n"
   ]
 
-addDirective :: (DirectiveName, String) -> CsvRulesParsed -> CsvRulesParsed
+addDirective :: (DirectiveName, Text) -> CsvRulesParsed -> CsvRulesParsed
 addDirective d r = r{rdirectives=d:rdirectives r}
 
 addAssignment :: (HledgerFieldName, FieldTemplate) -> CsvRulesParsed -> CsvRulesParsed
@@ -181,7 +182,7 @@ addAssignmentsFromList fs r = foldl' maybeAddAssignment r journalfieldnames
   where
     maybeAddAssignment rules f = (maybe id addAssignmentFromIndex $ elemIndex f fs) rules
       where
-        addAssignmentFromIndex i = addAssignment (f, "%"++show (i+1))
+        addAssignmentFromIndex i = addAssignment (f, T.pack $ '%':show (i+1))
 
 addConditionalBlock :: ConditionalBlock -> CsvRulesParsed -> CsvRulesParsed
 addConditionalBlock b r = r{rconditionalblocks=b:rconditionalblocks r}
@@ -240,7 +241,7 @@ validateRules rules = do
 -- | A set of data definitions and account-matching patterns sufficient to
 -- convert a particular CSV data file into meaningful journal transactions.
 data CsvRules' a = CsvRules' {
-  rdirectives        :: [(DirectiveName,String)],
+  rdirectives        :: [(DirectiveName,Text)],
     -- ^ top-level rules, as (keyword, value) pairs
   rcsvfieldindexes   :: [(CsvFieldName, CsvFieldIndex)],
     -- ^ csv field names and their column number, if declared by a fields list
@@ -260,7 +261,7 @@ type CsvRulesParsed = CsvRules' ()
 -- | Type used after parsing is done. Directives, assignments and conditional blocks
 -- are in the same order as they were in the unput file and rblocksassigning is functional.
 -- Ready to be used for CSV record processing
-type CsvRules = CsvRules' (String -> [ConditionalBlock])
+type CsvRules = CsvRules' (Text -> [ConditionalBlock])
 
 instance Eq CsvRules where
   r1 == r2 = (rdirectives r1, rcsvfieldindexes r1, rassignments r1) ==
@@ -277,27 +278,27 @@ instance Show CsvRules where
 type CsvRulesParser a = StateT CsvRulesParsed SimpleTextParser a
 
 -- | The keyword of a CSV rule - "fields", "skip", "if", etc.
-type DirectiveName    = String
+type DirectiveName    = Text
 
 -- | CSV field name.
-type CsvFieldName     = String
+type CsvFieldName     = Text
 
 -- | 1-based CSV column number.
 type CsvFieldIndex    = Int
 
 -- | Percent symbol followed by a CSV field name or column number. Eg: %date, %1.
-type CsvFieldReference = String
+type CsvFieldReference = Text
 
 -- | One of the standard hledger fields or pseudo-fields that can be assigned to.
 -- Eg date, account1, amount, amount1-in, date-format.
-type HledgerFieldName = String
+type HledgerFieldName = Text
 
 -- | A text value to be assigned to a hledger field, possibly
 -- containing csv field references to be interpolated.
-type FieldTemplate    = String
+type FieldTemplate    = Text
 
 -- | A strptime date parsing pattern, as supported by Data.Time.Format.
-type DateFormat       = String
+type DateFormat       = Text
 
 -- | A prefix for a matcher test, either & or none (implicit or).
 data MatcherPrefix = And | None
@@ -453,16 +454,16 @@ commentlinep = lift skipNonNewlineSpaces >> commentcharp >> lift restofline >> r
 commentcharp :: CsvRulesParser Char
 commentcharp = oneOf (";#*" :: [Char])
 
-directivep :: CsvRulesParser (DirectiveName, String)
+directivep :: CsvRulesParser (DirectiveName, Text)
 directivep = (do
   lift $ dbgparse 8 "trying directive"
-  d <- fmap T.unpack $ choiceInState $ map (lift . string . T.pack) directives
+  d <- choiceInState $ map (lift . string) directives
   v <- (((char ':' >> lift (many spacenonewline)) <|> lift (some spacenonewline)) >> directivevalp)
        <|> (optional (char ':') >> lift skipNonNewlineSpaces >> lift eolof >> return "")
   return (d, v)
   ) <?> "directive"
 
-directives :: [String]
+directives :: [Text]
 directives =
   ["date-format"
   ,"decimal-mark"
@@ -474,8 +475,8 @@ directives =
   , "balance-type"
   ]
 
-directivevalp :: CsvRulesParser String
-directivevalp = anySingle `manyTill` lift eolof
+directivevalp :: CsvRulesParser Text
+directivevalp = T.pack <$> anySingle `manyTill` lift eolof
 
 fieldnamelistp :: CsvRulesParser [CsvFieldName]
 fieldnamelistp = (do
@@ -487,21 +488,18 @@ fieldnamelistp = (do
   f <- fromMaybe "" <$> optional fieldnamep
   fs <- some $ (separator >> fromMaybe "" <$> optional fieldnamep)
   lift restofline
-  return $ map (map toLower) $ f:fs
+  return . map T.toLower $ f:fs
   ) <?> "field name list"
 
-fieldnamep :: CsvRulesParser String
+fieldnamep :: CsvRulesParser Text
 fieldnamep = quotedfieldnamep <|> barefieldnamep
 
-quotedfieldnamep :: CsvRulesParser String
-quotedfieldnamep = do
-  char '"'
-  f <- some $ noneOf ("\"\n:;#~" :: [Char])
-  char '"'
-  return f
+quotedfieldnamep :: CsvRulesParser Text
+quotedfieldnamep =
+    char '"' *> takeWhile1P Nothing (`notElem` ("\"\n:;#~" :: [Char])) <* char '"'
 
-barefieldnamep :: CsvRulesParser String
-barefieldnamep = some $ noneOf (" \t\n,;#~" :: [Char])
+barefieldnamep :: CsvRulesParser Text
+barefieldnamep = takeWhile1P Nothing (`notElem` (" \t\n,;#~" :: [Char]))
 
 fieldassignmentp :: CsvRulesParser (HledgerFieldName, FieldTemplate)
 fieldassignmentp = do
@@ -513,10 +511,10 @@ fieldassignmentp = do
   return (f,v)
   <?> "field assignment"
 
-journalfieldnamep :: CsvRulesParser String
+journalfieldnamep :: CsvRulesParser Text
 journalfieldnamep = do
   lift (dbgparse 8 "trying journalfieldnamep")
-  T.unpack <$> choiceInState (map (lift . string . T.pack) journalfieldnames)
+  choiceInState $ map (lift . string) journalfieldnames
 
 maxpostings = 99
 
@@ -524,14 +522,14 @@ maxpostings = 99
 -- Names must precede any other name they contain, for the parser
 -- (amount-in before amount; date2 before date). TODO: fix
 journalfieldnames =
-  concat [[ "account" ++ i
-          ,"amount" ++ i ++ "-in"
-          ,"amount" ++ i ++ "-out"
-          ,"amount" ++ i
-          ,"balance" ++ i
-          ,"comment" ++ i
-          ,"currency" ++ i
-          ] | x <- [maxpostings, (maxpostings-1)..1], let i = show x]
+  concat [[ "account" <> i
+          ,"amount" <> i <> "-in"
+          ,"amount" <> i <> "-out"
+          ,"amount" <> i
+          ,"balance" <> i
+          ,"comment" <> i
+          ,"currency" <> i
+          ] | x <- [maxpostings, (maxpostings-1)..1], let i = T.pack $ show x]
   ++
   ["amount-in"
   ,"amount-out"
@@ -556,10 +554,10 @@ assignmentseparatorp = do
                      ]
   return ()
 
-fieldvalp :: CsvRulesParser String
+fieldvalp :: CsvRulesParser Text
 fieldvalp = do
   lift $ dbgparse 8 "trying fieldvalp"
-  anySingle `manyTill` lift eolof
+  T.pack <$> anySingle `manyTill` lift eolof
 
 -- A conditional block: one or more matchers, one per line, followed by one or more indented rules.
 conditionalblockp :: CsvRulesParser ConditionalBlock
@@ -587,14 +585,14 @@ conditionaltablep :: CsvRulesParser [ConditionalBlock]
 conditionaltablep = do
   lift $ dbgparse 8 "trying conditionaltablep"
   start <- getOffset
-  string "if" 
+  string "if"
   sep <- lift $ satisfy (\c -> not (isAlphaNum c || isSpace c))
   fields <- journalfieldnamep `sepBy1` (char sep)
   newline
   body <- flip manyTill (lift eolof) $ do
     off <- getOffset
     m <- matcherp' (char sep >> return ())
-    vs <- LS.splitOn [sep] <$> lift restofline
+    vs <- T.split (==sep) . T.pack <$> lift restofline
     if (length vs /= length fields)
       then customFailure $ parseErrorAt off $ ((printf "line of conditional table should have %d values, but this one has only %d\n" (length fields) (length vs)) :: String)
       else return (m,vs)
@@ -655,8 +653,8 @@ csvfieldreferencep :: CsvRulesParser CsvFieldReference
 csvfieldreferencep = do
   lift $ dbgparse 8 "trying csvfieldreferencep"
   char '%'
-  f <- fieldnamep
-  return $ '%' : quoteIfNeeded f
+  f <- T.unpack <$> fieldnamep  -- XXX unpack and then pack
+  return . T.pack $ '%' : quoteIfNeeded f
 
 -- A single regular expression
 regexp :: CsvRulesParser () -> CsvRulesParser Regexp
@@ -721,7 +719,7 @@ readJournalFromCsv mrulesfile csvfile csvdata =
   let skiplines = case getDirective "skip" rules of
                     Nothing -> 0
                     Just "" -> 1
-                    Just s  -> readDef (throwerr $ "could not parse skip value: " ++ show s) s
+                    Just s  -> readDef (throwerr $ "could not parse skip value: " ++ show s) $ T.unpack s
 
   -- parse csv
   let
@@ -785,12 +783,11 @@ readJournalFromCsv mrulesfile csvfile csvdata =
 
 -- | Parse special separator names TAB and SPACE, or return the first
 -- character. Return Nothing on empty string
-parseSeparator :: String -> Maybe Char
-parseSeparator = specials . map toLower
+parseSeparator :: Text -> Maybe Char
+parseSeparator = specials . T.toLower
   where specials "space" = Just ' '
         specials "tab"   = Just '\t'
-        specials (x:_)   = Just x
-        specials []      = Nothing
+        specials xs      = fst <$> T.uncons xs
 
 parseCsv :: Char -> FilePath -> Text -> IO (Either String CSV)
 parseCsv separator filePath csvdata =
@@ -813,15 +810,13 @@ parseResultToCsv :: (Foldable t, Functor t) => t (t B.ByteString) -> CSV
 parseResultToCsv = toListList . unpackFields
     where
         toListList = toList . fmap toList
-        unpackFields  = (fmap . fmap) (T.unpack . T.decodeUtf8)
+        unpackFields  = (fmap . fmap) T.decodeUtf8
 
-printCSV :: CSV -> String
-printCSV records = unlined (printRecord `map` records)
-    where printRecord = concat . intersperse "," . map printField
-          printField f = "\"" ++ concatMap escape f ++ "\""
-          escape '"' = "\"\""
-          escape x = [x]
-          unlined = concat . intersperse "\n"
+printCSV :: CSV -> TL.Text
+printCSV = TB.toLazyText . unlined . map printRecord
+    where printRecord = mconcat . map TB.fromText . intersperse "," . map printField
+          printField = wrap "\"" "\"" . T.replace "\"" "\\\"\\\""
+          unlined = (<> TB.fromText "\n") . mconcat . intersperse "\n"
 
 -- | Return the cleaned up and validated CSV data (can be empty), or an error.
 validateCsv :: CsvRules -> Int -> Either String CSV -> Either String [CsvRecord]
@@ -834,7 +829,7 @@ validateCsv rules numhdrlines (Right rs) = validate $ applyConditionalSkips $ dr
         (Nothing, Nothing) -> Nothing
         (Just _, _) -> Just maxBound
         (Nothing, Just "") -> Just 1
-        (Nothing, Just x) -> Just (read x)
+        (Nothing, Just x) -> Just (read $ T.unpack x)
     applyConditionalSkips [] = []
     applyConditionalSkips (r:rest) =
       case skipCount r of
@@ -866,7 +861,7 @@ validateCsv rules numhdrlines (Right rs) = validate $ applyConditionalSkips $ dr
 --- ** converting csv records to transactions
 
 showRules rules record =
-  unlines $ catMaybes [ (("the "++fld++" rule is: ")++) <$> getEffectiveAssignment rules record fld | fld <- journalfieldnames]
+  T.unlines $ catMaybes [ (("the "<>fld<>" rule is: ")<>) <$> getEffectiveAssignment rules record fld | fld <- journalfieldnames]
 
 -- | Look up the value (template) of a csv rule by rule keyword.
 csvRule :: CsvRules -> DirectiveName -> Maybe FieldTemplate
@@ -880,7 +875,7 @@ hledgerField = getEffectiveAssignment
 
 -- | Look up the final value assigned to a hledger field, with csv field
 -- references interpolated.
-hledgerFieldValue :: CsvRules -> CsvRecord -> HledgerFieldName -> Maybe String
+hledgerFieldValue :: CsvRules -> CsvRecord -> HledgerFieldName -> Maybe Text
 hledgerFieldValue rules record = fmap (renderTemplate rules record) . hledgerField rules record
 
 transactionFromCsvRecord :: SourcePos -> CsvRules -> CsvRecord -> Transaction
@@ -892,18 +887,18 @@ transactionFromCsvRecord sourcepos rules record = t
     rule     = csvRule           rules        :: DirectiveName    -> Maybe FieldTemplate
     -- ruleval  = csvRuleValue      rules record :: DirectiveName    -> Maybe String
     field    = hledgerField      rules record :: HledgerFieldName -> Maybe FieldTemplate
-    fieldval = hledgerFieldValue rules record :: HledgerFieldName -> Maybe String
+    fieldval = hledgerFieldValue rules record :: HledgerFieldName -> Maybe Text
     parsedate = parseDateWithCustomOrDefaultFormats (rule "date-format")
-    mkdateerror datefield datevalue mdateformat = unlines
-      ["error: could not parse \""++datevalue++"\" as a date using date format "
-        ++maybe "\"YYYY/M/D\", \"YYYY-M-D\" or \"YYYY.M.D\"" show mdateformat
+    mkdateerror datefield datevalue mdateformat = T.unpack $ T.unlines
+      ["error: could not parse \""<>datevalue<>"\" as a date using date format "
+        <>maybe "\"YYYY/M/D\", \"YYYY-M-D\" or \"YYYY.M.D\"" (T.pack . show) mdateformat
       ,showRecord record
-      ,"the "++datefield++" rule is:   "++(fromMaybe "required, but missing" $ field datefield)
-      ,"the date-format is: "++fromMaybe "unspecified" mdateformat
+      ,"the "<>datefield<>" rule is:   "<>(fromMaybe "required, but missing" $ field datefield)
+      ,"the date-format is: "<>fromMaybe "unspecified" mdateformat
       ,"you may need to "
-        ++"change your "++datefield++" rule, "
-        ++maybe "add a" (const "change your") mdateformat++" date-format rule, "
-        ++"or "++maybe "add a" (const "change your") mskip++" skip rule"
+        <>"change your "<>datefield<>" rule, "
+        <>maybe "add a" (const "change your") mdateformat<>" date-format rule, "
+        <>"or "<>maybe "add a" (const "change your") mskip<>" skip rule"
       ,"for m/d/y or d/m/y dates, use date-format %-m/%-d/%Y or date-format %-d/%-m/%Y"
       ]
       where
@@ -923,10 +918,10 @@ transactionFromCsvRecord sourcepos rules record = t
     status      =
       case fieldval "status" of
         Nothing -> Unmarked
-        Just s  -> either statuserror id $ runParser (statusp <* eof) "" $ T.pack s
+        Just s  -> either statuserror id $ runParser (statusp <* eof) "" s
           where
             statuserror err = error' $ unlines
-              ["error: could not parse \""++s++"\" as a cleared status (should be *, ! or empty)"
+              ["error: could not parse \""<>T.unpack s<>"\" as a cleared status (should be *, ! or empty)"
               ,"the parse error is:      "++customErrorBundlePretty err
               ]
     code        = maybe "" singleline $ fieldval "code"
@@ -934,14 +929,16 @@ transactionFromCsvRecord sourcepos rules record = t
     comment     = maybe "" singleline $ fieldval "comment"
     precomment  = maybe "" singleline $ fieldval "precomment"
 
+    singleline = T.unwords . filter (not . T.null) . map T.strip . T.lines
+
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     -- 3. Generate the postings for which an account has been assigned
     -- (possibly indirectly due to an amount or balance assignment)
 
-    p1IsVirtual = (accountNamePostingType . T.pack <$> fieldval "account1") == Just VirtualPosting
+    p1IsVirtual = (accountNamePostingType <$> fieldval "account1") == Just VirtualPosting
     ps = [p | n <- [1..maxpostings]
-         ,let comment  = T.pack $ fromMaybe "" $ fieldval ("comment"++show n)
-         ,let currency = fromMaybe "" (fieldval ("currency"++show n) <|> fieldval "currency")
+         ,let comment  = fromMaybe "" $ fieldval ("comment"<> T.pack (show n))
+         ,let currency = fromMaybe "" (fieldval ("currency"<> T.pack (show n)) <|> fieldval "currency")
          ,let mamount  = getAmount rules record currency p1IsVirtual n
          ,let mbalance = getBalance rules record currency n
          ,Just (acct,isfinal) <- [getAccount rules record mamount mbalance n]  -- skips Nothings
@@ -965,10 +962,10 @@ transactionFromCsvRecord sourcepos rules record = t
           ,tdate             = date'
           ,tdate2            = mdate2'
           ,tstatus           = status
-          ,tcode             = T.pack code
-          ,tdescription      = T.pack description
-          ,tcomment          = T.pack comment
-          ,tprecedingcomment = T.pack precomment
+          ,tcode             = code
+          ,tdescription      = description
+          ,tcomment          = comment
+          ,tprecedingcomment = precomment
           ,tpostings         = ps
           }  
 
@@ -979,7 +976,7 @@ transactionFromCsvRecord sourcepos rules record = t
 -- For postings 1 or 2 it also looks at "amount", "amount-in", "amount-out".
 -- If more than one of these has a value, it looks for one that is non-zero.
 -- If there's multiple non-zeros, or no non-zeros but multiple zeros, it throws an error.
-getAmount :: CsvRules -> CsvRecord -> String -> Bool -> Int -> Maybe MixedAmount
+getAmount :: CsvRules -> CsvRecord -> Text -> Bool -> Int -> Maybe MixedAmount
 getAmount rules record currency p1IsVirtual n =
   -- Warning, many tricky corner cases here.
   -- docs: hledger_csv.m4.md #### amount
@@ -988,14 +985,15 @@ getAmount rules record currency p1IsVirtual n =
     unnumberedfieldnames = ["amount","amount-in","amount-out"]
 
     -- amount field names which can affect this posting
-    fieldnames = map (("amount"++show n)++) ["","-in","-out"]
+    fieldnames = map (("amount"<> T.pack(show n))<>) ["","-in","-out"]
                  -- For posting 1, also recognise the old amount/amount-in/amount-out names.
                  -- For posting 2, the same but only if posting 1 needs balancing.
                  ++ if n==1 || n==2 && not p1IsVirtual then unnumberedfieldnames else []
 
     -- assignments to any of these field names with non-empty values
     assignments = [(f,a') | f <- fieldnames
-                          , Just v@(_:_) <- [strip . renderTemplate rules record <$> hledgerField rules record f]
+                          , Just v <- [T.strip . renderTemplate rules record <$> hledgerField rules record f]
+                          , not $ T.null v
                           , let a = parseAmount rules record currency v
                           -- With amount/amount-in/amount-out, in posting 2,
                           -- flip the sign and convert to cost, as they did before 1.17
@@ -1006,7 +1004,7 @@ getAmount rules record currency p1IsVirtual n =
     assignments' | any isnumbered assignments = filter isnumbered assignments
                  | otherwise                  = assignments
       where
-        isnumbered (f,_) = any (flip elem ['0'..'9']) f
+        isnumbered (f,_) = T.any (flip elem ['0'..'9']) f
 
     -- if there's more than one value and only some are zeros, discard the zeros
     assignments''
@@ -1017,24 +1015,24 @@ getAmount rules record currency p1IsVirtual n =
   in case -- dbg0 ("amounts for posting "++show n)
           assignments'' of
       [] -> Nothing
-      [(f,a)] | "-out" `isSuffixOf` f -> Just (-a)  -- for -out fields, flip the sign
+      [(f,a)] | "-out" `T.isSuffixOf` f -> Just (-a)  -- for -out fields, flip the sign
       [(_,a)] -> Just a
-      fs      -> error' $ unlines $ [  -- PARTIAL:
+      fs      -> error' . T.unpack . T.unlines $ [  -- PARTIAL:
          "multiple non-zero amounts or multiple zero amounts assigned,"
         ,"please ensure just one. (https://hledger.org/csv.html#amount)"
-        ,"  " ++ showRecord record
-        ,"  for posting: " ++ show n
+        ,"  " <> showRecord record
+        ,"  for posting: " <> T.pack (show n)
         ]
-        ++ ["  assignment: " ++ f ++ " " ++
-             fromMaybe "" (hledgerField rules record f) ++
-             "\t=> value: " ++ showMixedAmount a -- XXX not sure this is showing all the right info
+        ++ ["  assignment: " <> f <> " " <>
+             fromMaybe "" (hledgerField rules record f) <>
+             "\t=> value: " <> T.pack (showMixedAmount a) -- XXX not sure this is showing all the right info
            | (f,a) <- fs]
 
 -- | Figure out the expected balance (assertion or assignment) specified for posting N,
 -- if any (and its parse position).
-getBalance :: CsvRules -> CsvRecord -> String -> Int -> Maybe (Amount, GenericSourcePos)
+getBalance :: CsvRules -> CsvRecord -> Text -> Int -> Maybe (Amount, GenericSourcePos)
 getBalance rules record currency n = do
-  v <- (fieldval ("balance"++show n)
+  v <- (fieldval ("balance"<> T.pack (show n))
         -- for posting 1, also recognise the old field name
         <|> if n==1 then fieldval "balance" else Nothing)
   case v of
@@ -1043,30 +1041,29 @@ getBalance rules record currency n = do
             parseBalanceAmount rules record currency n s
            ,nullsourcepos  -- parse position to show when assertion fails,
            )               -- XXX the csv record's line number would be good
-  
   where
-    fieldval = fmap strip . hledgerFieldValue rules record :: HledgerFieldName -> Maybe String
+    fieldval = fmap T.strip . hledgerFieldValue rules record :: HledgerFieldName -> Maybe Text
 
 -- | Given a non-empty amount string (from CSV) to parse, along with a
 -- possibly non-empty currency symbol to prepend,
 -- parse as a hledger MixedAmount (as in journal format), or raise an error.
 -- The whole CSV record is provided for the error message.
-parseAmount :: CsvRules -> CsvRecord -> String -> String -> MixedAmount
+parseAmount :: CsvRules -> CsvRecord -> Text -> Text -> MixedAmount
 parseAmount rules record currency s =
-  either mkerror (Mixed . (:[])) $  -- PARTIAL:
-  runParser (evalStateT (amountp <* eof) journalparsestate) "" $
-  T.pack $ (currency++) $ simplifySign s
+    either mkerror (Mixed . (:[])) $  -- PARTIAL:
+    runParser (evalStateT (amountp <* eof) journalparsestate) "" $
+    currency <> simplifySign s
   where
     journalparsestate = nulljournal{jparsedecimalmark=parseDecimalMark rules}
-    mkerror e = error' $ unlines
-      ["error: could not parse \""++s++"\" as an amount"
+    mkerror e = error' . T.unpack $ T.unlines
+      ["error: could not parse \"" <> s <> "\" as an amount"
       ,showRecord record
       ,showRules rules record
       -- ,"the default-currency is: "++fromMaybe "unspecified" (getDirective "default-currency" rules)
-      ,"the parse error is:      "++customErrorBundlePretty e
-      ,"you may need to "
-        ++"change your amount*, balance*, or currency* rules, "
-        ++"or add or change your skip rule"
+      ,"the parse error is:      " <> T.pack (customErrorBundlePretty e)
+      ,"you may need to \
+        \change your amount*, balance*, or currency* rules, \
+        \or add or change your skip rule"
       ]
 
 -- XXX unify these ^v
@@ -1076,30 +1073,30 @@ parseAmount rules record currency s =
 -- possibly non-empty currency symbol to prepend,
 -- parse as a hledger Amount (as in journal format), or raise an error.
 -- The CSV record and the field's numeric suffix are provided for the error message.
-parseBalanceAmount :: CsvRules -> CsvRecord -> String -> Int -> String -> Amount
+parseBalanceAmount :: CsvRules -> CsvRecord -> Text -> Int -> Text -> Amount
 parseBalanceAmount rules record currency n s =
   either (mkerror n s) id $
     runParser (evalStateT (amountp <* eof) journalparsestate) "" $
-    T.pack $ (currency++) $ simplifySign s
+    currency <> simplifySign s
                   -- the csv record's line number would be good
   where
     journalparsestate = nulljournal{jparsedecimalmark=parseDecimalMark rules}
-    mkerror n s e = error' $ unlines
-      ["error: could not parse \""++s++"\" as balance"++show n++" amount"
+    mkerror n s e = error' . T.unpack $ T.unlines
+      ["error: could not parse \"" <> s <> "\" as balance"<> T.pack (show n) <> " amount"
       ,showRecord record
       ,showRules rules record
       -- ,"the default-currency is: "++fromMaybe "unspecified" mdefaultcurrency
-      ,"the parse error is:      "++customErrorBundlePretty e
+      ,"the parse error is:      "<> T.pack (customErrorBundlePretty e)
       ]
 
 -- Read a valid decimal mark from the decimal-mark rule, if any.
 -- If the rule is present with an invalid argument, raise an error.
 parseDecimalMark :: CsvRules -> Maybe DecimalMark
-parseDecimalMark rules =
-  case rules `csvRule` "decimal-mark" of
-    Nothing -> Nothing
-    Just [c] | isDecimalMark c -> Just c
-    Just s -> error' $ "decimal-mark's argument should be \".\" or \",\" (not \""++s++"\")"
+parseDecimalMark rules = do
+    s <- rules `csvRule` "decimal-mark"
+    case T.uncons s of
+        Just (c, rest) | T.null rest && isDecimalMark c -> return c
+        _ -> error' . T.unpack $ "decimal-mark's argument should be \".\" or \",\" (not \""<>s<>"\")"
 
 -- | Make a balance assertion for the given amount, with the given parse
 -- position (to be shown in assertion failures), with the assertion type
@@ -1116,8 +1113,8 @@ mkBalanceAssertion rules record (amt, pos) = assrt{baamount=amt, baposition=pos}
         Just "=="  -> nullassertion{batotal=True}
         Just "=*"  -> nullassertion{bainclusive=True}
         Just "==*" -> nullassertion{batotal=True, bainclusive=True}
-        Just x     -> error' $ unlines  -- PARTIAL:
-          [ "balance-type \"" ++ x ++"\" is invalid. Use =, ==, =* or ==*."
+        Just x     -> error' . T.unpack $ T.unlines  -- PARTIAL:
+          [ "balance-type \"" <> x <>"\" is invalid. Use =, ==, =* or ==*."
           , showRecord record
           , showRules rules record
           ]
@@ -1128,8 +1125,8 @@ mkBalanceAssertion rules record (amt, pos) = assrt{baamount=amt, baposition=pos}
 getAccount :: CsvRules -> CsvRecord -> Maybe MixedAmount -> Maybe (Amount, GenericSourcePos) -> Int -> Maybe (AccountName, Bool)
 getAccount rules record mamount mbalance n =
   let
-    fieldval = hledgerFieldValue rules record :: HledgerFieldName -> Maybe String
-    maccount = T.pack <$> fieldval ("account"++show n)
+    fieldval = hledgerFieldValue rules record :: HledgerFieldName -> Maybe Text
+    maccount = fieldval ("account"<> T.pack (show n))
   in case maccount of
     -- accountN is set to the empty string - no posting will be generated
     Just "" -> Nothing
@@ -1150,7 +1147,7 @@ getAccount rules record mamount mbalance n =
 unknownExpenseAccount = "expenses:unknown"
 unknownIncomeAccount  = "income:unknown"
 
-type CsvAmountString = String
+type CsvAmountString = Text
 
 -- | Canonicalise the sign in a CSV amount string.
 -- Such strings can have a minus sign, negating parentheses,
@@ -1171,18 +1168,20 @@ type CsvAmountString = String
 -- >>> simplifySign "((1))"
 -- "1"
 simplifySign :: CsvAmountString -> CsvAmountString
-simplifySign ('(':s) | lastMay s == Just ')' = simplifySign $ negateStr $ init s
-simplifySign ('-':'(':s) | lastMay s == Just ')' = simplifySign $ init s
-simplifySign ('-':'-':s) = s
-simplifySign s = s
+simplifySign amtstr
+  | Just ('(',t) <- T.uncons amtstr, Just (amt,')') <- T.unsnoc t = simplifySign $ negateStr amt
+  | Just ('-',b) <- T.uncons amtstr, Just ('(',t) <- T.uncons b, Just (amt,')') <- T.unsnoc t = simplifySign amt
+  | Just ('-',m) <- T.uncons amtstr, Just ('-',amt) <- T.uncons m = amt
+  | otherwise = amtstr
 
-negateStr :: String -> String
-negateStr ('-':s) = s
-negateStr s       = '-':s
+negateStr :: Text -> Text
+negateStr amtstr = case T.uncons amtstr of
+    Just ('-',s) -> s
+    _            -> T.cons '-' amtstr
 
 -- | Show a (approximate) recreation of the original CSV record.
-showRecord :: CsvRecord -> String
-showRecord r = "record values: "++intercalate "," (map show r)
+showRecord :: CsvRecord -> Text
+showRecord r = "record values: "<>T.intercalate "," (map (wrap "\"" "\"") r)
 
 -- | Given the conversion rules, a CSV record and a hledger field name, find
 -- the value template ultimately assigned to this field, if any, by a field
@@ -1217,47 +1216,48 @@ getEffectiveAssignment rules record f = lastMay $ map snd $ assignments
                     -- - any quotes enclosing field values are removed
                     -- - and the field separator is always comma
                     -- which means that a field containing a comma will look like two fields.
-                    wholecsvline = dbg7 "wholecsvline" $ intercalate "," record
-                matcherMatches (FieldMatcher _ csvfieldref pat) = regexMatch pat csvfieldvalue
+                    wholecsvline = dbg7 "wholecsvline" . T.unpack $ T.intercalate "," record
+                matcherMatches (FieldMatcher _ csvfieldref pat) = regexMatch pat $ T.unpack csvfieldvalue
                   where
                     -- the value of the referenced CSV field to match against.
                     csvfieldvalue = dbg7 "csvfieldvalue" $ replaceCsvFieldReference rules record csvfieldref
 
 -- | Render a field assignment's template, possibly interpolating referenced
 -- CSV field values. Outer whitespace is removed from interpolated values.
-renderTemplate ::  CsvRules -> CsvRecord -> FieldTemplate -> String
-renderTemplate rules record t = maybe t concat $ parseMaybe
+renderTemplate ::  CsvRules -> CsvRecord -> FieldTemplate -> Text
+renderTemplate rules record t = maybe t mconcat $ parseMaybe
     (many $ takeWhile1P Nothing (/='%')
         <|> replaceCsvFieldReference rules record <$> referencep)
     t
   where
-    referencep = liftA2 (:) (char '%') (takeWhile1P (Just "reference") isDescriptorChar) :: Parsec CustomErr String String
+    referencep = liftA2 T.cons (char '%') (takeWhile1P (Just "reference") isDescriptorChar) :: Parsec CustomErr Text Text
     isDescriptorChar c = isAscii c && (isAlphaNum c || c == '_' || c == '-')
 
 -- | Replace something that looks like a reference to a csv field ("%date" or "%1)
 -- with that field's value. If it doesn't look like a field reference, or if we
 -- can't find such a field, leave it unchanged.
-replaceCsvFieldReference :: CsvRules -> CsvRecord -> CsvFieldReference -> String
-replaceCsvFieldReference rules record s@('%':fieldname) = fromMaybe s $ csvFieldValue rules record fieldname
-replaceCsvFieldReference _ _ s = s
+replaceCsvFieldReference :: CsvRules -> CsvRecord -> CsvFieldReference -> Text
+replaceCsvFieldReference rules record s = case T.uncons s of
+    Just ('%', fieldname) -> fromMaybe s $ csvFieldValue rules record fieldname
+    _                     -> s
 
 -- | Get the (whitespace-stripped) value of a CSV field, identified by its name or
 -- column number, ("date" or "1"), from the given CSV record, if such a field exists.
-csvFieldValue :: CsvRules -> CsvRecord -> CsvFieldName -> Maybe String
+csvFieldValue :: CsvRules -> CsvRecord -> CsvFieldName -> Maybe Text
 csvFieldValue rules record fieldname = do
-  fieldindex <- if | all isDigit fieldname -> readMay fieldname
-                   | otherwise             -> lookup (map toLower fieldname) $ rcsvfieldindexes rules
-  fieldvalue <- strip <$> atMay record (fieldindex-1)
+  fieldindex <- if | T.all isDigit fieldname -> readMay $ T.unpack fieldname
+                   | otherwise               -> lookup (T.toLower fieldname) $ rcsvfieldindexes rules
+  fieldvalue <- T.strip <$> atMay record (fieldindex-1)
   return fieldvalue
 
 -- | Parse the date string using the specified date-format, or if unspecified
 -- the "simple date" formats (YYYY/MM/DD, YYYY-MM-DD, YYYY.MM.DD, leading
 -- zeroes optional).
-parseDateWithCustomOrDefaultFormats :: Maybe DateFormat -> String -> Maybe Day
+parseDateWithCustomOrDefaultFormats :: Maybe DateFormat -> Text -> Maybe Day
 parseDateWithCustomOrDefaultFormats mformat s = asum $ map parsewith formats
   where
-    parsewith = flip (parseTimeM True defaultTimeLocale) s
-    formats = maybe
+    parsewith = flip (parseTimeM True defaultTimeLocale) (T.unpack s)
+    formats = map T.unpack $ maybe
                ["%Y/%-m/%-d"
                ,"%Y-%-m-%-d"
                ,"%Y.%-m.%-d"
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/BudgetReport.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/BudgetReport.hs
index dc4e07e4b..19c9948f0 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/BudgetReport.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/BudgetReport.hs
@@ -351,13 +351,13 @@ budgetReportAsCsv
 
   -- heading row
   ("Account" :
-   concatMap (\span -> [T.unpack $ showDateSpan span, "budget"]) colspans
+   concatMap (\span -> [showDateSpan span, "budget"]) colspans
    ++ concat [["Total"  ,"budget"] | row_total_]
    ++ concat [["Average","budget"] | average_]
   ) :
 
   -- account rows
-  [T.unpack (displayFull a) :
+  [displayFull a :
    map showmamt (flattentuples abamts)
    ++ concat [[showmamt mactualrowtot, showmamt mbudgetrowtot] | row_total_]
    ++ concat [[showmamt mactualrowavg, showmamt mbudgetrowavg] | average_]
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ budgetReportAsCsv
 
   where
     flattentuples abs = concat [[a,b] | (a,b) <- abs]
-    showmamt = maybe "" (showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False)
+    showmamt = maybe "" (T.pack . showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False)
 
 -- tests
 
diff --git a/hledger-lib/hledger-lib.cabal b/hledger-lib/hledger-lib.cabal
index 0125aa472..8def63904 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/hledger-lib.cabal
+++ b/hledger-lib/hledger-lib.cabal
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 cabal-version: 1.12
 
--- This file has been generated from package.yaml by hpack version 0.33.0.
+-- This file has been generated from package.yaml by hpack version 0.34.2.
 --
 -- see: https://github.com/sol/hpack
 --
@@ -125,7 +125,6 @@ library
     , pretty-simple >4 && <5
     , regex-tdfa
     , safe >=0.2
-    , split >=0.1
     , tabular >=0.2
     , tasty >=1.2.3
     , tasty-hunit >=0.10.0.2
@@ -176,7 +175,6 @@ test-suite doctest
     , pretty-simple >4 && <5
     , regex-tdfa
     , safe >=0.2
-    , split >=0.1
     , tabular >=0.2
     , tasty >=1.2.3
     , tasty-hunit >=0.10.0.2
@@ -229,7 +227,6 @@ test-suite unittest
     , pretty-simple >4 && <5
     , regex-tdfa
     , safe >=0.2
-    , split >=0.1
     , tabular >=0.2
     , tasty >=1.2.3
     , tasty-hunit >=0.10.0.2
diff --git a/hledger-lib/package.yaml b/hledger-lib/package.yaml
index ca4b641f7..d620be972 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/package.yaml
+++ b/hledger-lib/package.yaml
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ dependencies:
 - pretty-simple >4 && <5
 - regex-tdfa
 - safe >=0.2
-- split >=0.1
 - tabular >=0.2
 - tasty >=1.2.3
 - tasty-hunit >=0.10.0.2
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Aregister.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Aregister.hs
index c32443891..267a9d316 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Aregister.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Aregister.hs
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ aregister opts@CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts,reportspec_=rspec} j = do
              reverse items
     -- select renderer
     render | fmt=="txt"  = accountTransactionsReportAsText opts reportq thisacctq
-           | fmt=="csv"  = TL.pack . printCSV . accountTransactionsReportAsCsv reportq thisacctq
+           | fmt=="csv"  = printCSV . accountTransactionsReportAsCsv reportq thisacctq
            | fmt=="json" = toJsonText
            | otherwise   = error' $ unsupportedOutputFormatError fmt  -- PARTIAL:
       where
@@ -130,14 +130,12 @@ accountTransactionsReportItemAsCsvRecord :: Query -> Query -> AccountTransaction
 accountTransactionsReportItemAsCsvRecord
   reportq thisacctq
   (t@Transaction{tindex,tcode,tdescription}, _, _issplit, otheracctsstr, change, balance)
-  = [idx,date,code,desc,T.unpack otheracctsstr,amt,bal]
+  = [idx,date,tcode,tdescription,otheracctsstr,amt,bal]
   where
-    idx  = show tindex
-    date = T.unpack . showDate $ transactionRegisterDate reportq thisacctq t
-    code = T.unpack tcode
-    desc = T.unpack tdescription
-    amt  = showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False change
-    bal  = showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False balance
+    idx  = T.pack $ show tindex
+    date = showDate $ transactionRegisterDate reportq thisacctq t
+    amt  = T.pack $ showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False change
+    bal  = T.pack $ showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False balance
 
 -- | Render a register report as plain text suitable for console output.
 accountTransactionsReportAsText :: CliOpts -> Query -> Query -> AccountTransactionsReport -> TL.Text
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Balance.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Balance.hs
index 79c454383..e385aa7db 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Balance.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Balance.hs
@@ -321,8 +321,8 @@ balance opts@CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts,reportspec_=rspec} j = do
               assrt = not $ ignore_assertions_ $ inputopts_ opts
           render = case fmt of
             "txt"  -> budgetReportAsText ropts
-            "json" -> (++"\n") . TL.unpack . toJsonText
-            "csv"  -> (++"\n") . printCSV . budgetReportAsCsv ropts
+            "json" -> TL.unpack . (<>"\n") . toJsonText
+            "csv"  -> TL.unpack . printCSV . budgetReportAsCsv ropts
             _      -> const $ error' $ unsupportedOutputFormatError fmt
       writeOutput opts $ render budgetreport
 
@@ -330,21 +330,21 @@ balance opts@CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts,reportspec_=rspec} j = do
       if multiperiod then do  -- multi period balance report
         let report = multiBalanceReport rspec j
             render = case fmt of
-              "txt"  -> multiBalanceReportAsText ropts
-              "csv"  -> (++"\n") . printCSV . multiBalanceReportAsCsv ropts
-              "html" -> (++"\n") . TL.unpack . L.renderText . multiBalanceReportAsHtml ropts
-              "json" -> (++"\n") . TL.unpack . toJsonText
+              "txt"  -> TL.pack . multiBalanceReportAsText ropts
+              "csv"  -> printCSV . multiBalanceReportAsCsv ropts
+              "html" -> (<>"\n") . L.renderText . multiBalanceReportAsHtml ropts
+              "json" -> (<>"\n") . toJsonText
               _      -> const $ error' $ unsupportedOutputFormatError fmt  -- PARTIAL:
-        writeOutput opts $ render report
+        writeOutputLazyText opts $ render report
 
       else do  -- single period simple balance report
         let report = balanceReport rspec j -- simple Ledger-style balance report
             render = case fmt of
-              "txt"  -> balanceReportAsText
-              "csv"  -> \ropts r -> (++ "\n") $ printCSV $ balanceReportAsCsv ropts r
-              "json" -> const $ (++"\n") . TL.unpack . toJsonText
-              _      -> const $ error' $ unsupportedOutputFormatError fmt  -- PARTIAL:
-        writeOutput opts $ render ropts report
+              "txt"  -> \ropts -> TL.pack . balanceReportAsText ropts
+              "csv"  -> \ropts -> printCSV . balanceReportAsCsv ropts
+              "json" -> const $ (<>"\n") . toJsonText
+              _      -> error' $ unsupportedOutputFormatError fmt  -- PARTIAL:
+        writeOutputLazyText opts $ render ropts report
 
 
 -- XXX should all the per-report, per-format rendering code live in the command module,
@@ -356,11 +356,11 @@ balance opts@CliOpts{rawopts_=rawopts,reportspec_=rspec} j = do
 balanceReportAsCsv :: ReportOpts -> BalanceReport -> CSV
 balanceReportAsCsv opts (items, total) =
   ["account","balance"] :
-  [[T.unpack a, showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False b] | (a, _, _, b) <- items]
+  [[a, T.pack $ showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False b] | (a, _, _, b) <- items]
   ++
   if no_total_ opts
   then []
-  else [["total", showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False total]]
+  else [["total", T.pack $ showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False total]]
 
 -- | Render a single-column balance report as plain text.
 balanceReportAsText :: ReportOpts -> BalanceReport -> String
@@ -446,12 +446,12 @@ multiBalanceReportAsCsv :: ReportOpts -> MultiBalanceReport -> CSV
 multiBalanceReportAsCsv opts@ReportOpts{average_, row_total_}
     (PeriodicReport colspans items (PeriodicReportRow _ coltotals tot avg)) =
   maybetranspose $
-  ("Account" : map (T.unpack . showDateSpan) colspans
+  ("Account" : map showDateSpan colspans
    ++ ["Total"   | row_total_]
    ++ ["Average" | average_]
   ) :
-  [T.unpack (displayFull a) :
-   map (showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False)
+  [displayFull a :
+   map (T.pack . showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False)
    (amts
     ++ [rowtot | row_total_]
     ++ [rowavg | average_])
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ multiBalanceReportAsCsv opts@ReportOpts{average_, row_total_}
   if no_total_ opts
   then []
   else ["Total:" :
-        map (showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False) (
+        map (T.pack . showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False) (
           coltotals
           ++ [tot | row_total_]
           ++ [avg | average_]
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ multiBalanceReportHtmlRows ropts mbr =
     )
 
 -- | Render one MultiBalanceReport heading row as a HTML table row.
-multiBalanceReportHtmlHeadRow :: ReportOpts -> [String] -> Html ()
+multiBalanceReportHtmlHeadRow :: ReportOpts -> [T.Text] -> Html ()
 multiBalanceReportHtmlHeadRow _ [] = mempty  -- shouldn't happen
 multiBalanceReportHtmlHeadRow ropts (acct:rest) =
   let
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ multiBalanceReportHtmlHeadRow ropts (acct:rest) =
       ++ [td_ [class_ "rowaverage", defstyle] (toHtml a) | a <- avg]
 
 -- | Render one MultiBalanceReport data row as a HTML table row.
-multiBalanceReportHtmlBodyRow :: ReportOpts -> [String] -> Html ()
+multiBalanceReportHtmlBodyRow :: ReportOpts -> [T.Text] -> Html ()
 multiBalanceReportHtmlBodyRow _ [] = mempty  -- shouldn't happen
 multiBalanceReportHtmlBodyRow ropts (label:rest) =
   let
@@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ multiBalanceReportHtmlBodyRow ropts (label:rest) =
       ++ [td_ [class_ "amount rowaverage", defstyle] (toHtml a) | a <- avg]
 
 -- | Render one MultiBalanceReport totals row as a HTML table row.
-multiBalanceReportHtmlFootRow :: ReportOpts -> [String] -> Html ()
+multiBalanceReportHtmlFootRow :: ReportOpts -> [T.Text] -> Html ()
 multiBalanceReportHtmlFootRow _ropts [] = mempty
 -- TODO pad totals row with zeros when subreport is empty
 --  multiBalanceReportHtmlFootRow ropts $
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Print.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Print.hs
index 0921a144e..35d47dc0d 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Print.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Print.hs
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ printEntries opts@CliOpts{reportspec_=rspec} j =
   where
     fmt = outputFormatFromOpts opts
     render | fmt=="txt"  = entriesReportAsText opts
-           | fmt=="csv"  = TL.pack . printCSV . entriesReportAsCsv
+           | fmt=="csv"  = printCSV . entriesReportAsCsv
            | fmt=="json" = toJsonText
            | fmt=="sql"  = entriesReportAsSql
            | otherwise   = error' $ unsupportedOutputFormatError fmt  -- PARTIAL:
@@ -137,9 +137,7 @@ entriesReportAsSql txns = TB.toLazyText $ mconcat
   where
     values vs = TB.fromText "(" <> mconcat (intersperse (TB.fromText ",") $ map toSql vs) <> TB.fromText ")\n"
     toSql "" = TB.fromText "NULL"
-    toSql s  = TB.fromText "'" <> TB.fromString (concatMap quoteChar s) <> TB.fromText "'"
-    quoteChar '\'' = "''"
-    quoteChar c = [c]
+    toSql s  = TB.fromText "'" <> TB.fromText (T.replace "'" "''" s) <> TB.fromText "'"
     csv = concatMap transactionToCSV txns
 
 entriesReportAsCsv :: EntriesReport -> CSV
@@ -151,16 +149,16 @@ entriesReportAsCsv txns =
 -- The txnidx field (transaction index) allows postings to be grouped back into transactions.
 transactionToCSV :: Transaction -> CSV
 transactionToCSV t =
-  map (\p -> show idx:date:date2:status:code:description:comment:p)
+  map (\p -> T.pack (show idx):date:date2:status:code:description:comment:p)
    (concatMap postingToCSV $ tpostings t)
   where
     idx = tindex t
-    description = T.unpack $ tdescription t
-    date = T.unpack $ showDate (tdate t)
-    date2 = maybe "" (T.unpack . showDate) (tdate2 t)
-    status = show $ tstatus t
-    code = T.unpack $ tcode t
-    comment = chomp $ strip $ T.unpack $ tcomment t
+    description = tdescription t
+    date = showDate (tdate t)
+    date2 = maybe "" showDate $ tdate2 t
+    status = T.pack . show $ tstatus t
+    code = tcode t
+    comment = T.strip $ tcomment t
 
 postingToCSV :: Posting -> CSV
 postingToCSV p =
@@ -168,17 +166,16 @@ postingToCSV p =
     -- commodity goes into separate column, so we suppress it, along with digit group
     -- separators and prices
     let a_ = a{acommodity="",astyle=(astyle a){asdigitgroups=Nothing},aprice=Nothing} in
-    let amount = showAmount a_ in
-    let commodity = T.unpack c in
-    let credit = if q < 0 then showAmount $ negate a_ else "" in
-    let debit  = if q >= 0 then showAmount a_ else "" in
-    [account, amount, commodity, credit, debit, status, comment])
+    let amount = T.pack $ showAmount a_ in
+    let credit = if q < 0 then T.pack . showAmount $ negate a_ else "" in
+    let debit  = if q >= 0 then T.pack $ showAmount a_ else "" in
+    [account, amount, c, credit, debit, status, comment])
    amounts
   where
     Mixed amounts = pamount p
-    status = show $ pstatus p
-    account = T.unpack $ showAccountName Nothing (ptype p) (paccount p)
-    comment = T.unpack . textChomp . T.strip $ pcomment p
+    status = T.pack . show $ pstatus p
+    account = showAccountName Nothing (ptype p) (paccount p)
+    comment = T.strip $ pcomment p
 
 -- --match
 
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Register.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Register.hs
index 9e93f3ef5..74151e0fa 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Register.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Register.hs
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ register opts@CliOpts{reportspec_=rspec} j =
   where
     fmt = outputFormatFromOpts opts
     render | fmt=="txt"  = postingsReportAsText opts
-           | fmt=="csv"  = TL.pack . printCSV . postingsReportAsCsv
+           | fmt=="csv"  = printCSV . postingsReportAsCsv
            | fmt=="json" = toJsonText
            | otherwise   = error' $ unsupportedOutputFormatError fmt  -- PARTIAL:
 
@@ -77,18 +77,18 @@ postingsReportAsCsv is =
 postingsReportItemAsCsvRecord :: PostingsReportItem -> CsvRecord
 postingsReportItemAsCsvRecord (_, _, _, p, b) = [idx,date,code,desc,acct,amt,bal]
   where
-    idx  = show $ maybe 0 tindex $ ptransaction p
-    date = T.unpack . showDate $ postingDate p -- XXX csv should show date2 with --date2
-    code = maybe "" (T.unpack . tcode) $ ptransaction p
-    desc = T.unpack . maybe "" tdescription $ ptransaction p
-    acct = T.unpack . bracket $ paccount p
+    idx  = T.pack . show . maybe 0 tindex $ ptransaction p
+    date = showDate $ postingDate p -- XXX csv should show date2 with --date2
+    code = maybe "" tcode $ ptransaction p
+    desc = maybe "" tdescription $ ptransaction p
+    acct = bracket $ paccount p
       where
         bracket = case ptype p of
                              BalancedVirtualPosting -> wrap "[" "]"
                              VirtualPosting -> wrap "(" ")"
                              _ -> id
-    amt = showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False $ pamount p
-    bal = showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False b
+    amt = T.pack $ showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False $ pamount p
+    bal = T.pack $ showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False b
 
 -- | Render a register report as plain text suitable for console output.
 postingsReportAsText :: CliOpts -> PostingsReport -> TL.Text
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/CompoundBalanceCommand.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/CompoundBalanceCommand.hs
index e50a586ac..132ef8f03 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/CompoundBalanceCommand.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/CompoundBalanceCommand.hs
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ compoundBalanceCommand CompoundBalanceCommandSpec{..} opts@CliOpts{reportspec_=r
     -- render appropriately
     render = case outputFormatFromOpts opts of
         "txt"  -> TL.pack . compoundBalanceReportAsText ropts'
-        "csv"  -> TL.pack . printCSV . compoundBalanceReportAsCsv ropts'
+        "csv"  -> printCSV . compoundBalanceReportAsCsv ropts'
         "html" -> L.renderText . compoundBalanceReportAsHtml ropts'
         "json" -> toJsonText
         x      -> error' $ unsupportedOutputFormatError x
@@ -230,18 +230,18 @@ concatTables (Table hLeft hTop dat) (Table hLeft' _ dat') =
 -- optional overall totals row is added.
 compoundBalanceReportAsCsv :: ReportOpts -> CompoundPeriodicReport DisplayName MixedAmount -> CSV
 compoundBalanceReportAsCsv ropts (CompoundPeriodicReport title colspans subreports (PeriodicReportRow _ coltotals grandtotal grandavg)) =
-  addtotals $
-  padRow title :
-  map T.unpack ("Account" :
-   map showDateSpanMonthAbbrev colspans
-   ++ (if row_total_ ropts then ["Total"] else [])
-   ++ (if average_ ropts then ["Average"] else [])
-   ) :
-  concatMap (subreportAsCsv ropts) subreports
+    addtotals $
+      padRow (T.pack title)
+      : ( "Account"
+        : map showDateSpanMonthAbbrev colspans
+        ++ (if row_total_ ropts then ["Total"] else [])
+        ++ (if average_ ropts then ["Average"] else [])
+        )
+      : concatMap (subreportAsCsv ropts) subreports
   where
     -- | Add a subreport title row and drop the heading row.
     subreportAsCsv ropts (subreporttitle, multibalreport, _) =
-      padRow subreporttitle :
+      padRow (T.pack subreporttitle) :
       tail (multiBalanceReportAsCsv ropts multibalreport)
     padRow s = take numcols $ s : repeat ""
       where
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ compoundBalanceReportAsCsv ropts (CompoundPeriodicReport title colspans subrepor
       | no_total_ ropts || length subreports == 1 = id
       | otherwise = (++
           ["Net:" :
-           map (showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False) (
+           map (T.pack . showMixedAmountOneLineWithoutPrice False) (
              coltotals
              ++ (if row_total_ ropts then [grandtotal] else [])
              ++ (if average_ ropts   then [grandavg]   else [])