Consumers Are Snacking More – Shopping Less.

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, were culled from an online survey of a random and representative sample of 300 Americans, aged 18 and older.

* There is some bad news for retailers. 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).

* Women in general are more worried about their own futures and the futures of their children than are their male counterparts. More women than men (54% vs. 46%) worry that today’s children will never again feel as safe as they did prior to 9-11, and more women than men (32% vs. 26%) worry that they will lose their jobs as a result of the weakened economy.

* Men and women are more closely aligned with regard to practical fears for their safety: 51% of men and 48.5% of women worry that their cities and towns aren’t prepared to cope with a terrorist attack, while 38% of men and 37% of women have similar fears about their offices. Both women and men (22% and 21%, respectively) are spending less time in public places, while about a quarter of men and women would prefer to telecommute to their jobs.

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