• by Sarah Mahoney  @mahoney_sarah, October 15, 2015

Even with a wobbly stock market, affluent Americans are feeling more upbeat — and richer — lately: Some 4% more expect their income to increase in the coming year than a year ago, approaching the highest levels since 2008. And more than a third predict their net worth will be higher a year from now. Overall, people 59 and younger and men are more likely to be feeling optimistic.

Another positive sign, according to the report from America Affluence Research Center, is that they’re feeling especially confident about the coming holiday season, with 81% planning to be more generous. On average, they say they think they will lay out $2,773 for gifts in December -- a 7.7% jump from last year. (That’s roughly four times higher than the national average, as predicted by the National Retail Federation, and a significantly bigger increase than the NRF’s 3.7% forecast increase.) About 90% intend to hand out cash or checks, amounting to some $19 billion.

The survey also asked about their taste in jewelry, with Tiffany and Cartier coming up highest on the millionaires’ radar, followed by Chanel, Kay, Zales, and Jared. And 50% of them have made a purchase from Tiffany’s at some point in their lives, with 50% also saying they’d buy something in a bright blue box at some point in the future.

And more are considering some major purchases than last year, including a new car, a cruise, remodeling, and buying a new house or vacation home. More are also planning to travel, both in the U.S. and abroad. Spending plans, however, are down in such categories as home furnishings and home appliances.

The survey focuses on the 12.2 million families that make up the U.S.’s 10% most affluent, with a minimum net worth of $942,000, an average net worth of $4 million, and an average annual income of $361,000. Findings are based on 346 responses in 32 states.