Christmas is less than one week away, and most Americans who buy Christmas gifts say their shopping is all — or mostly — done. In the latest Economist/YouGov Poll (Week of 12/17/2011), 79% of Americans say they are buying Christmas presents; more than half are at least three-quarters done, and 33% are finished!
Of course, some people — nearly one in ten — haven’t even begun. Men are more likely than women to be in that situation: 10% of men, but only 6% of women hadn’t started shopping when they responded over the weekend.
Only 15% of those buying gifts say they are spending more money this year than last; more than twice as many say they are spending less. Even 26% of those with annual incomes over $100,000 say they are cutting back from last year. And where people are spending their gift money depends on age and experience. Overall, nearly half the gift-buying public is buying at least half their gifts online. But just 33% of those 65 and older are — 46% of that age group are spending no gift money online.
Age also plays a role in how we look at the Christmas holiday: a majority of Americans (and 75% of those 65 and older) say they think of Christmas as primarily a religious holiday. Those under 30 are different: 51% of them view Christmas through a non-religious lens.
Do you personally celebrate Christmas more as a religious holiday or as a non-religious holiday?
| Age | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Religious | 36% | 58% | 75% | 56% |
Non-religious | 51% | 35% | 21% | 36% |
Don’t celebrate Christmas | 13% | 7% | 4% | 8% |
Photo source: Press Association
