Survey: Consumers are Snacking More, Shopping Less in Wake of Terrorist Attacks
NEW YORK, Nov. 5 - The September 11 terrorist attacks have resulted in a number of changes in the life of the average American, according to a new poll. People are planning to scale back their holiday spending, reaching for more snack foods, and booking more quality time with family. Results of the study, released by Euro RSCG Worldwide, the world's fifth-largest advertising agency network, were culled from an online survey of a random and representative sample of 300 Americans, aged 18 and older.
Some of the survey's findings:
* Almost half of respondents (46% of both men and women) plan to spend less money than usual this holiday season, while only 11% of men and 7% of women plan to spend more than usual. Greeting card sales may also experience a downturn: 13% of men and 9% of women indicate that they won't send holiday cards this year as a result of the anthrax scare.
* A majority of respondents (70% of women, 60.5% of men) intend to spend more time with family this holiday season. Forty-one percent of women and 35% of men plan to focus more on the religious side of the holidays.
* Many respondents have changed their eating habits in some way since the attacks: 17.5% are eating more healthfully, 14% are eating more comfort foods, and 11% are snacking more. In addition, 26% are sharing more meals with family, and 22% are eating at home more often. The preferred snack food post 9-11? A fifth of respondents say they are eating more ice cream (21% of men, 19% of women).
Euro RSCG Worldwide, the world's fifth-largest advertising agency network, is a network of 221 agencies located in 75 countries throughout Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. Headquartered in New York, Euro RSCG is the largest unit of Havas Advertising, the world's fifth-largest communications group.
Some of the survey's findings:
* Almost half of respondents (46% of both men and women) plan to spend less money than usual this holiday season, while only 11% of men and 7% of women plan to spend more than usual. Greeting card sales may also experience a downturn: 13% of men and 9% of women indicate that they won't send holiday cards this year as a result of the anthrax scare.
* A majority of respondents (70% of women, 60.5% of men) intend to spend more time with family this holiday season. Forty-one percent of women and 35% of men plan to focus more on the religious side of the holidays.
* Many respondents have changed their eating habits in some way since the attacks: 17.5% are eating more healthfully, 14% are eating more comfort foods, and 11% are snacking more. In addition, 26% are sharing more meals with family, and 22% are eating at home more often. The preferred snack food post 9-11? A fifth of respondents say they are eating more ice cream (21% of men, 19% of women).
Euro RSCG Worldwide, the world's fifth-largest advertising agency network, is a network of 221 agencies located in 75 countries throughout Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. Headquartered in New York, Euro RSCG is the largest unit of Havas Advertising, the world's fifth-largest communications group.