• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, October 20, 2003

Cars and Vacations Part of Confident Spending Outlook

BIGresearch's monthly Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, featuring detailed information on how consumers spend and intend to spend money, reports that 39.8% of consumers polled are "confident or very confident" about a strong economy during the next six months. This is an attitude up from September and 14 points higher than October last year.

"Though the upturn is slight, it's a positive development for retailers... heading into the holiday shopping season," said Joe Pilotta, Vice President of Research for BIGresearch.

Of consumers who say they're "confident" or "very confident" about the economic outlook in the next six months, nearly 19% said they'll be purchasing vacation travel during that timeframe while more than 11% plan to buy a car or truck.

Survey results, says Pilotta, show that consumers are purchasing only what they need instead of what they want.

Those who do plan to purchase cars in the next six months seem to drive American models more often than others. 17.6% of those planning to purchase a car in the next six months drive a Ford model, while 15.3% drive a Chevrolet.

And, more than 70% of those surveyed said they'd spend "more" or the "same" over the next 90 days (October, November and December) than they would normally spend on toys at this time of the year.

Find out more here.