US Consumers Working Less

The Harris Poll at this time of the year asks US consumers how much time they spend working, including at school and housework, how much time they have for leisure and what their favourite pastimes are. In most years, the numbers do not change very much. This year's survey, however, shows a sharp drop in the average number of hours spent working (including housekeeping, studying and commuting).

Interestingly, this is the only time since Harris Interactive first asked this question almost thirty years ago that the number of working hours has dropped significantly. From 1973 to 1980, the number of hours spent working, as broadly defined, rose from 41 to 47 hours. It then rose slowly to 51 hours in 1994, dropped back to 50 in 1998 and had remained unchanged through 2001. This year the median number of hours worked has fallen sharply to 47. According to Humphrey Taylor, chairman of The Harris Poll, Harris Interactive, 'This surely reflects the weakening of the economy and the end of the boom years of the 1990s which saw a record number of hours worked.'

While the number of hours spent working has dropped, there has been no change in people's estimates of how many leisure hours they have available for relaxation, watching television, taking part in sports or hobbies, and so on. The median estimate of 20 hours this year is the same as it has been every year since 1999. Indeed, it has not been higher than 20 or lower than 19 since 1989.

Reading, watching TV, spending time with the family, fishing and gardening are America's most popular pastimes. The largest number mentioned reading (26%) and watching television (15%). These two activities have topped the list every year that the survey has been carried out, although the numbers have fluctuated somewhat. Indeed, it is striking that those who say that watching television is one of their favourite activities has fallen from 23% in 2000 to 20% last year and is now down sharply to 15%.

The Harris Poll is a nationwide telephone survey conducted by Harris Interactive with a sample of 1,011 adults from August 15 - 19, 2002.

All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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