Nearly half of New Yorkers surveyed in a new poll said they plan on spending more than $500 this holiday shopping season and more than 20% will spend $1,000, according to a new Siena College Research Institute poll.Fifty-four percent said they will spend about the same amount on gifts this year, compared to last year. Seventeen percent will spend more and 26% will spend less.
SCRI Director Don Levy says when it comes to spending and general excitement about the holidays, numbers are up, modestly, across the board.
"All the trends within our survey this year point to people feeling a little bit better economically this year, excited about the holiday season, and intending to spend a little bit more than they have in the last several years," Levy said.
More New Yorkers are turning to the internet for their holiday shopping. Eighty-two percent of those surveyed said they will do at least some of their shopping online, up from 76% last year. Levy said when he first asked the same question in 2008, just 49% of respondents were doing any online shopping.
Along with spending habits, Siena also asked respondents about their charitable intentions. Sixty-three percent said they will donate to money, food or gifts to organizations that focus on those in need and 32% said they plan to volunteer their time.
Some other findings from Siena's annual holiday poll: 72% say they will put up a Christmas tree in their home (65% of them choose artificial over real), 51% prefer the greeting "Merry Christmas" compared to 38% who like "Happy Holidays," and 30% of those surveyed said they believe in Santa Claus.
WBFO's Thomas O'Neil-White contributed to this report.
