• December 21, 2004

Gallup Poll's Tuesday briefing data showed the percentage of young adults who say they are likely to shop online for Christmas gifts is similar to the percentages of Americans in other age groups--except those 65 and older, who are the least likely age group to shop online. Thirty-four percent of 18- to 29-year-olds say they are either "very" or "somewhat likely" to use "online shopping on the Internet" for Christmas gifts this year. That compares with 38 percent of 30- to 49-year-olds, 30 percent of 50- to 64-year-olds, and 9 percent of those ages 65 and older.

The percentage of adults between the ages of 18 and 29 who say they are at least somewhat likely to use "online shopping on the Internet" to do Christmas shopping is essentially the same now--34 percent--as it was in 2002. However, there has been an apparent rise in the percentage of Americans in this age group who now say they are "very likely" to Christmas shop online--from 14 percent in 2002 to 21 percent this year.

--Gavin O'Malley