Daily Research News Online no. 2842 - Outlook for 2004 � Americans' Plans and Worries

Outlook for 2004 � Americans' Plans and Worries

January 9 2004

Americans are more likely to cut down on calories than on spending this year, according to the 2004 Outlook Study by RoperASW. The annual study of American adults addresses consumer attitudes about economic and lifestyle issues.

Completed in early December, the study found a growing financial confidence with 43% of Americans saying they are generally optimistic about the future of the economy, up from 36% in January '03. Seventy-one percent say they are generally optimistic about their personal situations and only 5% say they feel pessimistic.

This optimism is reflected in unwillingness to tighten belts. When asked about cost cutting measures if the economy were to weaken in the next three months, there was a significant decline in the number of people willing to hold off on spending activities:

	Dec. '03	Jan. '02	Sept. '01
	%	%	%
Cut down on luxuries or non-essentials	66	78	82
Postpone purchase of latest high tech items	57	63	62
Go out to restaurants less often	55	63	67
Go out less often for entertainment	50	62	63
Put off buying items for household or making household repairs	39	45	45

'Consumers have weathered some very difficult economic times and though the uncertainty lingers, they are less inclined to hunker down', said Ed Keller, CEO of RoperASW. 'For many who are still cautious about the improving economy, this translates into a search for affordable luxuries such as spa days instead of extended vacations'.

Top of the list of New Year's Resolutions is a change in eating habits:

Subject	% making resolution
Eating habits	43
Overall appearance	34
House or apartment	32
Car	31
Present job	22
Family life	19
Partner or spouse	10

Asked about major personal concerns for 2004, more people cited the rising cost of healthcare than the war with Iraq, inflation or having enough money to live and pay the bills. The top concerns are:

Concern	% expressing
Rising cost of health care	71
War in Iraq	64
Inflation and high prices	64
Having enough money to live right and pay the bills	64
Our relations with foreign countries	61
Interest rates	51
Unemployment	42
Stock market	36

One thousand Americans aged 18+ were interviewed by telephone between December 5 and 7, 2003. The sample is nationally representative of the adult population in the US.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.