November 20, 2007 2007
Christmas Spending Plans Down
Shoppers around the country say they are
planning to spend an average of $859 for gifts this holiday
season, down from $907
last year according to the 22d annual survey on holiday spending
from the American Research Group, Inc. The overall average
planned
spending is down a little more than 5% from 2006 and it is
the lowest level of planned spending recorded by the American Research Group in the past 10
years. Shoppers remain reluctant to pay full price for gifts and are more apt than last year to say they will wait for sales. In
telephone interviews with
a random sample of 1,100 adults nationwide conducted November
16 through 19, 2007, the average
planned spending of $859 for 2007 is down about 5% from planned
spending
in the 2006 survey.
| Year |
Average Spending |
Percent Change |
|
| 2007 |
$859 |
-
5% |
| 2006 |
$907 |
-
4% |
| 2005 |
$942 |
-
6% |
| 2004 |
$1,004 |
+
3% |
| 2003 |
$976 |
-
6% |
| 2002 |
$1,037 |
-1% |
| 2001 |
$1,052 |
+ 9% |
| 2000 |
$968 |
+ 3% |
| 1999 |
$939 |
+ 1% |
| 1998 |
$928 |
+ 34% |
| 1997 |
$692 |
+ 29% |
| 1996 |
$535 |
- 23% |
A total of 51% of shoppers say they
plan to
make holiday purchases from catalogs and other direct marketers.
| Year |
Make Purchases From Catalogs |
|
| 2007 |
51% |
| 2006 |
50% |
| 2005 |
47% |
| 2004 |
47% |
| 2003 |
42% |
| 2002 |
44% |
| 2001 |
40% |
| 2000 |
50% |
| 1999 |
51% |
| 1998 |
57% |
The average spending for those
saying they plan to make catalog purchases is $1,022, down from $1,455 in 2006.
The planned use of the Internet to purchase
gifts
is at 36%.
| Year |
Make Purchases On the Internet |
|
| 2007 |
36% |
| 2006 |
44% |
| 2005 |
43% |
| 2004 |
37% |
| 2003 |
29% |
| 2002 |
39% |
| 2001 |
15% |
| 2000 |
24% |
| 1999 |
26% |
| 1998 |
14% |
The average planned spending by those saying they
will make purchases on
the Internet is $967, down from $1,501 in 2006 and $1,498
in 2005.
Shoppers say that they are more apt to wait
for sales this year. When asked if they will
pay full price for the gifts they purchase this year or if
they will wait for the gifts to
go on sale, 16% of shoppers say they plan to pay full price,
50% say they plan to wait until
the items go on sale, and 34% say it will depend on the gifts.
| Year |
Pay Full Price |
Wait for Sale |
Depends on The Gifts |
|
| 2007 |
16% |
50% |
34% |
| 2006 |
11% |
33% |
56% |
| 2005 |
13% |
75% |
11% |
| 2004 |
16% |
65% |
17% |
| 2003 |
19% |
61% |
16% |
| 2002 |
27% |
55% |
15% |
| 2001 |
23% |
53% |
17% |
| 2000 |
31% |
53% |
12% |
| 1999 |
18% |
45% |
35% |
| 1998 |
26% |
54% |
17% |
| 1997 |
31% |
47% |
16% |
| 1996 |
22% |
59% |
11% |
Shoppers saying they will pay full price plan on spending $763, those waiting for sales plan on spending $805, and those saying it depends on the gifts plan on spending $993.
A total of 43% of consumers say they have started
their Christmas shopping.
| Year |
Have Started Christmas Shopping |
|
| 2007 |
43% |
| 2006 |
61% |
| 2005 |
59% |
| 2004 |
55% |
| 2003 |
44% |
| 2002 |
41% |
| 2001 |
52% |
| 2000 |
48% |
| 1999 |
56% |
| 1998 |
57% |
| 1997 |
51% |
| 1996 |
39% |
The average planned spending for shoppers who
have
already started their holiday shopping is $1,068, compared
to $1,093 in 2006 and the average
for those who have not started
their shopping is $724, compared to $616 in 2006.
About this survey: Survey Sponsor: American Research Group, Inc. The American Research Group has been conducting national surveys of consumers since 1985. Sample Size: 1,100 completed telephone interviews among a random sample of all adults age 18 and older living in telephone households in the continental United States. Sample
Dates: November 16-19, 2007 Margin of Error: ± 3 percentage points, 95% of the time, on questions where opinion is evenly split. Question Wording: What do you think you will spend on gifts this Christmas? Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Will you make any purchases through catalogs? Will you make any purchases on the Internet? When you purchase Christmas gifts this year, will you pay full price for the gifts or will you wait to see if the gifts go on sale? |
