• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, July 18, 2014

According to the results of The Harris Poll of U.S. adults surveyed online between June 11 and 16, 2014, Americans are loosening their purse strings in several key areas, backing off of several key efficiencies and cutbacks in comparison to a year ago, indicating more confidence in their financial prospects for the near future. Looking further back, American financial attitudes continue to show great improvement over a few years ago.

When asked to look at cutbacks they've instituted over the past six months to save money, fewer Americans are cutting back on common daily and monthly expenditures in comparison to a year ago.

Some key decreases in such behaviors include fewer Americans saying they're purchasing more generic brands and are brown bagging lunch instead of purchasing it, along with fewer saying they've cancelled magazine or newspaper subscriptions, and that they've cut down on dry cleaning.  Women are more likely than men to say they're purchasing more generic brands, and that they're going to the hairdresser, barber or stylist less often, says the report.

Those with children in the household are more likely than those without to indicate brown bagging lunch, cancelling landline phone service, changing or cancelling cell phone service, and that they've begun carpooling or using mass transit.

Americans are less likely than a year ago to say that they plan on decreasing their spending on eating out at restaurants within the next six months. U.S. adults are also less likely than a year ago to say they'll reduce spending on entertainment. And, they show no year-over-year change in their likelihood to say they'll save or invest more money in the next six months, or that they'll have more money to spend the way they want.

Looking at things generationally, younger Americans are more likely to anticipate both cutting back and spending big. Echo Boomers, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers are all more likely than Matures to indicate they plan both restaurant and entertainment cutbacks, while Millennials are more likely than any other generation to indicate they plan on saving or investing more money, says the report.

On the other hand, Millennials are also more likely than Baby Boomers or Matures to indicate they expect to have more money to spend they way they want in the next six months. Additionally, Millennials and Gen Xers are more likely than Baby Boomers or Matures to anticipate buying a house or condo within that time.

Please visit Harris Interactive here for additional information