By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-994778.mp3
Albany, NY – Siena Research Institute has released its Annual New York Poll of Holiday Spending Plans , which describes current holiday spending plans and attitudes towards the holiday season among state residents. Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.
With Black Friday and the holiday shopping season bearing down upon us, Siena is out with the numbers reflecting how New Yorkers feel about the weeks ahead: SRI Director Don Levy says there's a small uptick across the board from last year. Just 34% of those polled said they're cutting their holiday spending. A quarter of New Yorkers have a holiday budget over $1000 dollars. Sixty-five percent of consumers plan to spend less than $600, which is up slightly from 61 percent last year. Levy says New Yorkers are shunning credit cards, opting to pay for gifts with cash. Levy says about two-thirds of New Yorkers are excited about the holiday season, regardless of money. Rebecca Flach of the Retail Council of New York say merchants are eager to welcome holiday shoppers.
The Siena Survey says a majority of New Yorkers, 59 percent, plan to purchase most of their gifts from locally owned and operated businesses. The poll was conducted from November 13 through 17 via landline and cellular phone calls to 625 adult New Yorkers statewide.