Survey Says: Holiday Spending More on Entertainment, Less on Gifts

By Rachelle Bowden in News on Nov 18, 2004 5:48PM

A consumer survey of holiday retail spending has predicted that Chicago consumers will spend less on gifts and more on socializing both at home and away from home. We've said that only 29% of our spending this holiday will be on presents and that 52% will be on entertaining.

The survey also said that we’re approaching the holiday season with "conservative optimism" and in "a celebratory mood". We want our holiday experience to be time spent with family and friends instead of gift-giving. Down with materialism! And we’re gonna go out lots more than staying home. Score for the bars and restaurants!

The most popular gift to give? Over clothing and CDs/DVDs, gift cards are predicted to be the hottest holiday gift this season which means no more ugly sweaters from grandma! While the gift card is a national trend, it is especially strong here, where we are planning on buying more gift cards and certificates than the rest of the country. But get this: Despite their popularity, 28% of Chicagoans admitted they still have unused gift cards from the 2003 holiday season. So we're buying them, just not using them.

Finally, although Chicagoans are more tentative about the economy this year, we still plan to spend the same or more this holiday season than we did last year. We don't know who they're surveying, but somehow Chicago consumers plan to spend $1,625. To which we say, "Are you fucking kidding?" That's a lot of money! To the Richie Riches - don't forget to include Chicagoist on your gift-giving list.. oh wait.. we're spending less of actual gifts.. well, don't forget to take Chicagoist out to dinner for the holiday!