COLUMBUS, OH--(Marketwire - May 5, 2010) - 74.1% of Americans say they are living a simpler life -- spending less, being more frugal, not trying to keep up with the Joneses -- as a result of the recession, according to the latest American Pulse™ survey of 5,079 Americans. And almost half (45.2%) say they are happier because of it (39.4% say they aren't; 15.3% aren't sure).
Further, 84.1% say that compared to a year ago, they are not ready to spend on luxury items (10.3% say they are). This isn't surprising when you consider that more than one third of Americans say paying bills on time is a luxury. One possible reason Americans feel this way is that 70% say they aren't better off financially since President Obama took office.
Given the current economic situation, what does "luxury" mean to you? (Adults 18+)
| Being able to pay my bills on time | 36.2% |
| Making a purchase at a discount store outside of the necessities | 16.3% |
| Making a purchase at a department store rather than a discount store | 17.9% |
| Making a purchase at a high-end retailer rather than a department store | 29.6% |
Source: American Pulse™, April-2010
Complimentary report: http://americanpulse.bigresearch.com
Key findings:
- 55.5% think the immigration law in Arizona is necessary... 19.2% say it's racial profiling.
- Americans are split on a "path to citizenship" for illegal immigrants... 40.8% think it's good for those who meet certain criteria; 41.8% think they should be deported.
- 52.9% say deporting illegal immigrants would help lower unemployment rate (v. 29% who don't) and 63.8% believe amnesty for illegal immigrants would increase healthcare costs (v. 16.4% who don't).
- 53.8% say cost of insurance going up worries them most when it comes to healthcare reform... 21.4% are more concerned about shortage of doctors (24.8% say reform as enacted is good for everyone).
- 54.1% are somewhat/very concerned about violence in the U.S. due to bitter divide on issues such as healthcare, immigration, etc.
About American Pulse™
The American Pulse™ Survey is collected online by BIGresearch® every month exclusively utilizing Survey Sampling International's (SSI) U.S. panel covering topics such as politics, pop culture and the economy. Over 5,000 respondents participate, providing greater insights and accuracy of +/- 1%. http://www.bigresearch.com
About Survey Sampling International (SSI)
Survey Sampling International is the premier global provider of sampling solutions for survey research. SSI offers access to more than 6 million consumer and business-to-business research respondents in 54 countries via Internet, telephone, and mobile. Additional client services include custom profiling, survey programming and hosting, data processing, sampling consulting, and survey optimization. SSI serves more than 1,800 marketing research clients, including nearly three-quarters of the top researchers worldwide. Founded in 1977, SSI has an international staff of 400 people representing 50 countries and 36 languages. The company is based in Shelton, CT with 14 additional offices worldwide. http://www.surveysampling.com
Contact Information:
Contacts:
BIGresearch
Chrissy Wissinger
203.567.7236