POLL: New Dream Holiday Poll 2005
by New Dream | January 11, 2005
In November 2005, the Center for a New American Dream commissioned a census-balanced and nationally representative telephone poll of 500 American adults about the holiday season.
Poll Highlights:
- More than 3 in 5 Americans (62%) say they are going to give family members gifts this holiday season that encourage them to save money, such as savings bond or even a piggyback for a child.
- The high cost of living is the #1 concern of Americans as they approach the holiday season.
- More Americans are worried about the high cost of living (53%) and their families’ personal financial situation (50%) than are about economic insecurity (40%) and the war in Iraq (37%).
- Nearly all Americans (91%) say the cost of living has increased compared to last year, and more than 2 in 3 Americans blame the price of oil or gas (68%).
- Nearly 3 in 5 Americans (59%) say they incurred or acquired credit card debt last year during the holiday season shopping or buying presents.
- Nearly one-third (32%) say it took them more than three months to pay off this credit card debt and 14% say they are still paying it off as the new holiday season approaches.
- By a nearly 4-to-1 margin, more Americans say they will buy fewer (37%), not more (10%), holiday gifts this season. About half (48%) say they will buy the same amount as last year.
- More than 3 in 4 Americans (78%) wish that holidays were less materialistic.
- Nearly 9 in 10 Americans (87%) believe that holidays should be more about family and caring for others, not giving and receiving gifts.
- Nearly 4 in 5 Americans (79%) DO NOT believe that it's necessary to spend a lot of money in order to have a fulfilling and enjoyable holiday.
- Nearly 3 in 4 Americans (74%) believe that the giving and receiving of gifts are awarded too much importance during the Holiday season.
- More than 3 in 4 Americans (76%) say that kids are too materialistic and the holiday season just makes things worse.