Consumer Reports Poll: 65 Percent of Consumers Expect to Cut Back on Holiday Spending

/PRNewswire/ -- The effects of ongoing economic turbulence continue to weigh heavily on the pocketbooks and minds of shoppers as the 2009 holiday season approaches. According to a new Consumer Reports Holiday Shopping Poll, 65 percent of Americans plan to cut back on overall holiday expenses such as gifts, travel, and entertaining. The full results of this latest poll are available at www.ConsumerReports.org.

The anticipated decrease in spending comes on top of already dramatic cutbacks that occurred last year. In the 2008 Consumer Reports Holiday Shopping Poll, 76 percent of those surveyed said they were scaling back on holiday spending.

The projected decrease in spending is likely to be felt in almost every category. Those surveyed said they're cutting back on purchases of clothing and electronics (still the biggest seasonal gift categories), as well as other items such as gift cards, monetary presents, and jewelry.

Consistent with 2008's findings, Consumer Reports Holiday Shopping Poll also found that some consumers are still saddled with leftover holiday debt. Six percent of Americans--some 13.5 million consumers--continue to carry debt from last winter's holiday season.

"This year, it all comes down to value and getting the best bang for your shopping dollar," said Tod Marks, Consumer Reports senior editor and resident shopping expert. "We've already seen aggressive discounts that make it seem more like November 28 rather than October 28, but retailers are getting more sophisticated about targeting their promotions to their best customers."

Additional findings from the Consumer Reports Holiday Shopping Poll include:

The Gift List: Who's In? Who's Out?

-- Among consumers scaling back on gifts, most (78%) were willing to cut
back on buying for themselves, followed by friends and their families,
other family members, coworkers, and service providers like delivery
personnel and fitness trainers. Among those most likely to be spared
from the budgetary axe: Grandparents, grandchildren, kids under 18,
and the family pet.

A Few Favorite Things

-- Despite the gloomy outlook sales of certain products - notably
desktop, laptop, and netbook computers, cell phones and smart phones,
video game systems, and GPS systems - are expected to at least hold
their own, according to our poll.

Hitting the Stores
-- Similar to the past two holiday shopping seasons, the 2009 holiday
shopping season has begun with about a third of consumers reporting
that they have started their shopping as of mid-October.

-- Only about half (46%) of consumers anticipate they will be done buying
gifts by the second week in December. Approximately 18 percent say
they will push their holiday shopping right up to December 24th. About
4 percent of consumers don't plan to complete their shopping until
after the holidays.

Sticking to a Budget or Not?

-- This year, half (50%) of Americans will be making a budget for their
holiday purchases, yet sticking to it is bound to be a challenge. Of
the 38 percent of consumers who made a budget last year, 44 percent
reported that they exceeded it; five percent said they went way over
budget.

Most (& Least) Wanted Gifts
-- Clothing remains the biggest category, and 52 percent of consumers
plan to give apparel as a gift. But you might want to choose
carefully. Thirty-seven percent of recipients - particularly men -
cited clothes as their biggest gift disappointment of 2008. Socks were
still the single most hated item, but shirts, sweaters, slippers, and
ties, made the list, too.
-- Electronics gear also ranks among the most desirable gifts for both
men and women, and 51 percent of respondents plan on giving recipients
items such as video games or accessories, digital cameras, headphones,
or other gadgets.
-- Other gifts consumers plan on giving this season include gift cards
(46%), followed by money (44%), toys (42%), DVDs (31%), food or wine
(28%), jewelry (26%) and pet toys (19%).

Especially For You?

-- Tis' the season to give and receive and to re-gift what you've
received. According to the poll, 36 percent of adults have given a
gift they have received from someone else to another person as a
holiday gift. That's up from 31 percent in 2008.

The Perils of Gift Cards
-- Despite their drawbacks - fees, expiration dates, and the like - many
people plan on buying gift cards (46%) and many want them (15%) as
well. During the 2008 holidays, about half of adults received a gift
card, but one in four hadn't redeemed at least one of the cards as of
this month.
-- Sixty-five percent of adults who received a gift card in 2008
typically spend more than the value of the card, up from 58 percent in
2007. Forty-one percent of those who have unused gift cards from last
year said that they hadn't found anything they wanted to buy. This
year, lack of time was less of a factor in not redeeming gift cards;
only 37 percent of respondents reporting that they hadn't had time to
redeem their cards, down from 54 percent last year.

Happy Holidays

-- Despite continued cutbacks, a majority (87%) of adults remain hopeful
that their holiday season will be as happy or even happier than last
year.

Consumer Reports Holiday Shopping Poll Methodology

The Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a telephone survey of a nationally representative probability sample of telephone households. 1,000 interviews were completed among adults aged 18+. Interviewing took place over October 15-18, 2009. The margin of error is +/- 3% points at a 95% confidence level.

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National Poll Finds Most Americans Believe Immigration Adversely Affects the Quality and Cost of Healthcare

/PRNewswire-/ -- The American Council for Immigration Reform (ANCIR) national poll on immigration and its impact on health care issues conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC, of 1,000 likely voters on August 26, 2009 found that 78% of Americans believe that high immigration levels have had an adverse impact on the quality and cost of our health care system. Republicans (89%) felt more strongly on the issue, but Democrats (69%) were not far behind. Other key findings were:

-- Seventy-three percent (73%) of likely voters agreed that hospitals
should be allowed to inquire and collect data about the immigration
status of those seeking Emergency Room care without affecting the
legal requirement that they must provide emergency care. Just 18%
said no.
-- Seventy-seven percent (77%) of the respondents believed that providing
health insurance to illegal immigrants will just encourage more
illegal immigration.
-- After receiving emergency medical care, if it is determined that an
illegal immigrant will require long term follow-up medical care, 47%
believed that the person should be deported to his/her home country.
38% believed care should be provided, but time and cost limits should
be established for eventual deportation. Only 8% believed long term
care should be provided in the U.S.
-- Eighty-three percent (83%) of likely voters were very or somewhat
concerned that the United States will add 135 million people to its
population in the next 40 years, 75% of which is due to immigration.
Republicans (90%) were more concerned than Democrats (74%).
-- Seventy-eight percent (78%) of likely voters were opposed to
legalizing the status of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants
in the U.S. with only 19% supporting it. 88% of African-Americans
were opposed to legalization.
-- Fifty-five percent (55%) were opposed to a government insurance option
under any national health care plan with 28% in favor and 17% not
sure. 73% of Republicans were opposed with 11% in favor. A plurality
of Democrats (47%) supported a government option with 34% opposed and
19% unsure.

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Federal Cigarette Tax Increase and Current Economy Will Change Smoker's Habits

RJ Note: I don't smoke and am certainly not interested in it. Besides the obvious health risks, the overall stench on the clothes would be enough to deter me. If I did smoke, I would be in fumes over this tax. Seems like it's a way to be sure that a select group of people will be paying for this new improved government program. If the program and higher tax does provide smokers the incentive to smoke, what will the government have to tax next to pay for this program? Just wondering.

/PRNewswire/ -- On April 1, the federal cigarette tax will increase by 62 cents to a total of $1.01 per pack, to fund the expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program that was signed into law earlier this year.(1) A new survey shows that the April 1st federal price increase on cigarettes and the current economy are big concerns for smokers and will change their current smoking habits.(2)

The survey, commissioned by the marketers of Nicorette, showed 70 percent of smokers say that the current price of cigarettes is already very expensive and is one of their main concerns about smoking, second only to health concerns.(2) For survey respondents over 45 years old, the price of cigarettes was the most cited concern.(2) Further, 56 percent of smokers say the April 1st price increase will prompt them to smoke fewer cigarettes and 72 percent say the price increase on cigarettes would increase their intention to quit.(2)

Smokers also say the current economy is a big concern and it will prompt them to change their smoking habits.(2) Forty-seven percent of smokers say they would cut back on cigarettes because of the economy.(2)

"Research shows that smokers are more likely to try to quit when the price of cigarettes goes up," said Dr. Frank Chaloupka, professor of economics at the University of Illinois at Chicago and affiliate of the National Bureau of Economic Research. "Given the recent tax hike and the state of the economy, now would be a great time for smokers to re-evaluate how smoking affects their finances and calculate how much they could save by quitting. A typical pack-a-day smoker could be spending approximately $2,000 each year on cigarettes, but no matter how expensive it is to smoke, quitting smoking is a big challenge."

Almost half of smokers currently quitting, or more likely to quit smoking, noted in the survey that they do not plan to get help.(2) In fact, almost half (48 percent) said they would prefer to quit cold turkey or gradually cut down smoking without assistance.(2) Unfortunately, research shows only 3-5 percent of smokers who quit without the help of cessation tools are successful long-term.(3) The same research shows smokers are twice as likely to be successful if they use therapeutic nicotine rather than quitting unassisted.(3)

"Tools for cessation, such as therapeutic nicotine, social support and counseling have been proven to significantly increase a smoker's chances of quitting successfully," said Saul Shiffman, Ph.D., professor in the departments of psychology and pharmaceutical science at the University of Pittsburgh. "Therapeutic nicotine products, like Nicorette White Ice Mint gum, are a safe and effective approach to quitting, and can help a smoker manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms during the quitting process."

Smokers interested in quitting due to the federal tax increase can access free tools and resources at www.nicorette.com. Nicorette is giving away a free starter pack of Nicorette White Ice Mint gum while supplies last.

About the Survey
A national survey of 1,046 U.S. adult smokers was conducted in March

2009 by Richard Day Research through Global Market Insite, Inc. (2) The survey was balanced according to age, gender and regional dispersion of smokers found in the 2007 National Health interview Survey (NHIS) and the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.(2) The survey was conducted on behalf of Nicorette.

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New Poll: Reagan, FDR Lead Presidential Role Models

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- When American voters were asked which past President of the United States they believe Barack Obama should model his new presidency after, they did not pick Abraham Lincoln or John F. Kennedy, or even George Washington as their top choice. They picked Ronald Reagan.

According to a nationwide survey conducted by Clarus Research Group this past week, Reagan was the top choice among all voters with 26 percent, followed by Franklin Roosevelt with 18%, Kennedy with 17% and Lincoln with 13%.

"Reagan was the overwhelming favorite among Republican voters," said Dr. Ron Faucheux, President of Clarus. "He received 59 percent as the President GOP voters want Obama to emulate. Nobody else came close."

"Democrats scattered their choices more," Faucheux noted. "FDR was their top pick at 27 percent and was closely followed by Kennedy, with 26 percent. Lincoln, a Republican, ranked third among Democrats."

Other findings:
-- Independents favored Reagan, followed by FDR, Lincoln and Kennedy.
-- Younger voters (under 30) selected JFK as their favorite. Reagan and
Lincoln followed.
-- Older voters (over 65) put Roosevelt first. Reagan was second.
-- White voters picked Reagan as their top choice with FDR in second
place.
-- African American voters favored Kennedy by a wide margin. Lincoln, the
Great Emancipator, came in second.
-- Home regions of past Presidents can still have political impact.
Reagan, from California, did the best in the West (30 percent) and the
worst in the Northeast (22 percent). FDR, a New Yorker, scored highest
in the Northeast (26 percent) and lowest in the Midwest (15 percent).
-- Reagan dominated small town and rural America, winning 31 percent.
Among urban voters, FDR led with 23 percent. Reagan was also favored
among suburbanites, capturing 28 percent.
-- Reagan won high-income voters (over $100,000 a year) with 33 percent
followed by FDR with 21 percent. JFK and Reagan, at 21 percent, tied
among voters with incomes under $50,000 a year.
-- Education was a factor in some cases. FDR received 14 percent among
voters without a college degree but 25 percent among those with
graduate degrees. Kennedy won 27 percent of voters with high school
educations and 14 percent among college graduates.

Presidents among the Founding Fathers -- George Washington and Thomas Jefferson -- received 4 and 3 percent, respectively. Cold War Presidents Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower also received 4 and 3 percent among all voters. Theodore Roosevelt, a progressive Republican, captured 4 percent; the Hero of the Battle of New Orleans, Democrat Andrew Jackson, received 1 percent.

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AARP Survey: 70 Percent of Americans Believe the Country Has Not Lived up to Kennedy's Inaugural Request

RJ Note: Many Americans volunteer their time and money through many great causes. Fayette County citizens have such a big heart when it comes to serving others that I can't begin to mention them all. Just know each and every one of you is appreciated.

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Seven in 10 Americans do not believe the country has lived up to President John F. Kennedy's inaugural challenge to "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country," according to a survey released today by AARP Create The Good.

The problem might be the way they are being asked: though 73 percent of respondents said they would choose to give time over money, they reported that requests for monetary donations had increased more than requests for time in the last year.

The poll comes as President-elect Barack Obama calls on Americans to renew their commitment to community service and as the nation celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

"The results tell us something very promising: that Americans are ready to answer the call to serve," said Tom Nelson, AARP's chief operations officer. "Across the nation, Americans of all ages gave back today in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King. But this is not just a one-day activity - rather, it is a commitment to make making a difference part of our lives."

To help Americans answer the call to serve, today AARP launched its new Create The Good Web site (www.AARP.org/CreateTheGood), where thousands are already connecting to flexible opportunities, tools and online communities, and making a difference across the country.

"We believe that small actions yield big results," said Nelson. "Whether you have five minutes or five hours a week, there are simple things you can do to help."

Although survey respondents felt that requests for monetary donations (34%) have increased more compared to requests for volunteer time (11%), when asked what they would choose to give to solve a national problem, they overwhelmingly selected time (73%) over money (16%). Younger respondents were more likely to say they would prefer to give time compared to older respondents.

Though respondents overwhelmingly thought older people volunteer more (71%) than younger people (15%), there was no statistically significant difference between the proportion of younger and older respondents who said they had volunteered in the last year.

More than half of respondents (52%) rate volunteering to help others as an important goal and almost seven in ten respondents (68%) said that they have volunteered in the last year.

The survey was conducted via telephone by ICR from among a nationally representative sample of 1,011 adults age 18 or older. The margin of error for total respondents is +/-3.08% at the 95% confidence level. Full survey results are available at: http://www.aarp.org/research/family/volunteering/volunteering_perceptions_09.h tml.

Visit Create The Good today at www.AARP.org/CreateTheGood to get connected to tools, people and hundreds of ways to make a difference.

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National Poll: More Than One-in-Four Teens Think Violent Behavior is Acceptable; Many Say It's OK to Settle a Score

RJ Note: Well, Ollie, that's another fine mess you've gotten us in to. We Americans had best wake up when it comes to our children.

/PRNewswire/ -- While today's teens are learning the Three "Rs" of Reading, Writing and Arithmetic in school, new research shows that many are justifying violence to practice a fourth -- Revenge. In a youth culture where violence is often believed to be acceptable, these and other findings not only present disturbing implications for school safety, but for the workplace as well, say experts.

A new poll of 750 teens from Junior Achievement and Deloitte and conducted by Opinion Research shows that more than one-in-four teens (27 percent) think behaving violently is sometimes, often or always acceptable. More students thought violence was acceptable than was cheating (19 percent), plagiarizing (10 percent) or stealing (3 percent). And fully 20 percent of respondents said they had personally behaved violently towards another person in the past year, and 41 percent reported a friend had done so.

When the teens who agreed that violence was acceptable were asked more specifically about rationale for such behavior, most noted self-defense (87 percent) and to help a friend (73 percent). However, more than a third said violence was acceptable to settle an argument (35 percent) and for revenge (34 percent). Other justifications were dislike of the person who is the target of the violence (22 percent), to gain respect (21 percent), peer pressure (14 percent), and simply for "the thrill" of it (10 percent). Of considerable concern is that more than three-fourths (77 percent) of those who think violence is acceptable also consider themselves ethically prepared to enter the workforce.

"It is highly troubling that so many teenagers have a self-image of ethical readiness and the confidence in their ability to make good decisions later in life, yet at the same time freely admit to current behavior that is highly unethical," said David W. Miller, Ph.D., Director of the Princeton University Faith & Work Initiative, and professor of business ethics at Princeton University. "Employers will have their hands full if a quarter of teens grow up still willing to resort to violence and other unethical behavior when it comes to making decisions about how to settle differences, protect their interests or get ahead."

The poll also shows that teens feel more accountable to themselves (86 percent), than they do to their parents or guardians (52 percent), their friends (41 percent) or society (33 percent). Teens' feelings about accountability, coupled with self-reported unethical behavior, raises a potential concern among employers because ties within a community, school, work environment or social network often guide behavior. If teens lack accountability to others, the data suggests that their choices may be driven purely by self-interest, and not by interest in the greater good.

"The results of the survey reveal considerable ethical relativism among teens and raises questions about their ability to make good decisions later in life," said Sean C. Rush, President and Chief Executive Officer of JA Worldwide. We're understandably concerned about these results but recognize that they do point to a major learning opportunity."

The survey results also show that many teenagers are lacking role models. Only about half (54 percent) cite their parents as role models. Most of those who don't cite their parents as role models are turning to their friends, or they said they didn't have a role model -- which begs the question why more parents, teachers, clergy, politicians or business leaders are not viewed as role models -- and what society can do to improve this statistic.

"Teens need training in ethical decision-making, practical tools and behavioral role models that help them understand not only how to make the right choices, but how those choices will impact their personal success and the success of the organizations they join," said Ainar D. Aijala, global managing partner, Consulting, Deloitte and chairman of the board, JA Worldwide. "That is why Deloitte continues to support ethics education in collaboration with Junior Achievement."

Junior Achievement and Deloitte offer "JA Business Ethics(TM)" as part of their $2 million initiative to help young people make ethical decisions. "JA Business Ethics" was developed in response to the needs of high school students; it provides hands-on classroom activities and real-life applications designed to foster ethical decision-making as students prepare to enter the workforce and addresses issues such as lying, cheating and violence. Students examine how their beliefs align with major ethics theories and learn the benefits and advantages of having a code of ethics. Additionally, Junior Achievement recently updated the original "Excellence through Ethics(TM)" program, which is available online at www.ja.org/ethics free of charge and provides age-appropriate lessons for students in grades 4-12. At the high school level, the "Excellence through Ethics" lessons include appropriate methods of conflict resolution in the workplace. For example, through role-playing exercises, students learn how to overcome disagreements with co-workers by finding common ground.

Methodology

This report presents the findings of a telephone survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, among a national sample of 750 teens comprising 375 males and 375 females 12 to 17 years of age, living in private households in the continental United States. Interviewing for this TEEN CARAVAN(R) Survey was completed during the period October 9-12, 2008. The survey's margin of error is +/- 3.6 percent.

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