U.S. Consumers Will Adhere To Discretionary Spending Habits.

A telephone poll conducted by Frost & Sullivan has revealed that U.S. consumers do not anticipate any significant changes in their discretionary spending patterns over the next six months.

In the survey, conducted to determine consumer intentions towards electronic purchases and to gauge future spending habits, a majority of respondents acknowledged that the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks have not changed their priorities when it comes to disposing of surplus income.

Results of the poll indicate that consumer spending priorities have been, and will continue to be, travel and entertainment.

“These responses support what I believe is a logical premise, which is that people’s lifestyle and family antecedence are deeply held and not easily swayed,” says Laurel Donoho, Director of the Consumer Group at Frost & Sullivan. “While many people expressed sadness or anger about the attacks, they acknowledged a fundamental confident in what is important in regards to their finances.”

Though these tragic events have not changed the public’s long-term savings plans, a majority of interviewees also reported that they did not anticipate altering their future spending patterns concerning electronic purchases or travel, despite the current economic and political situation.

“Interestingly enough, those individuals who expressed that travel was a priority, largely voiced the opinion that the events of September 11 would not deter them from continuing with this activity in their lives,” says Donoho. “It would remain just as important, and they will continue to travel as much as they had prior to the attacks.”

In an understandable attitude measurement, roughly 25 percent of respondents admitted they would feel guilty about purchasing entertainment or recreational products during this time. However, the majority of respondents felt no qualms about continuing to spend in these areas in spite of their personal feelings.

“There have been several articles and announcements from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) over the past few weeks that share information which is congruent with the findings in our poll,” adds Donoho. “In their annual holiday purchase patterns survey, the CEA points out that many consumers expect to spend as much this year as last on electronic products for holiday gifts.”

For more information at http://www.frost.com