Holiday Spending Will Test Radio’s Resolve…

Results of a new NPD Group Inc. survey on the holiday retail outlook is being called “A look back-to-the-future.” When asked if consumers would be (A) Planning to spend more, (B) Planning to spend about the same (or) (C) Planning to spend less, the latter category was four percent higher than last year – 26 percent to 30 percent. You might rethink giving out your Christmas bonuses this year, Mr. General Manager because in addition to more people spending less, the other two categories didn’t do too well either. The ’spending more’ percentage stayed the same at 11 percent while 59 percent will ’spend about the same.’ That last figure was down 4 points, from 63 to 59 percent. Partay!!! 

While this was a national survey it also mirrors local markets everywhere. Here are some categories that will be attracting people to retail this season: Electronics: The NPD Holiday Survey showed a 20 percent rise in the 18 to 24 year old demographic saying electronics are the “gift to purchase.” Apparel: 49 percent of consumers tested intend to buy apparel as a gift. This percentage stayed the same. Value: This will be a primary motivator in gift giving this year. A full 62 percent will be looking for value with 61 percent looking for a “special sale” and 50 percent wanting a convenient location to look for those special sales…

Holiday shopping will begin during the Thanksgiving weekend or later while a number of consumers won’t start their shopping spree until early December or at the last minute. The top 10 items consumers plan to buy as a gift are just about the same as last year: 1) Apparel (no change), 2) Toys ( -3%), 3) Movies (DVD, Blu-Ray) (no change), 4) Books (+1%), 5) Electronics (+1%), 6) Accessories (+2%), 7) Music (+1%), Video games (-2%), 9) Fragrances (+2%) and 10) Food (+1%). The NPD Holiday Survey of Consumer Purchase Intentions was fielded Sept. 8th to Sept. 15th, 2009. The findings are based on information from 1,995 completed interviews of NPD’s online consumer panel…

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1962] Till Hell Freezes Over: In one of the most dramatic verbal confrontations of the Cold War, U.N. Ambassador Adlai Stevenson asks his Soviet counterpart whether the USSR has placed missiles in Cuba…
2. 1965] Sir Beatles: The Beatles receive MBE (Member of the British Empire) honors at Buckingham Palace…
3. 1972] Peace and love man: National security adviser Henry Kissinger declares “peace is at hand” in Vietnam. This clip features an earlier conversation between Kissinger and Nixon…
4. 1984] Baboon heart: A newborn with a severe heart defect is given the heart of a baboon in an experimental transplant. She will live 21 more days…
5. 1990] “Happy Trails“: William S. Paley, founder of CBS, Inc. dies from kidney failure at 89…1994] One-man band, Wilbert Harrison suffers a fatal stroke at 65…
6. 1994] Passing the peace pipe: Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Jordan PM Abdel Salam Majali sign a peace treaty in a ceremony brokered by President Bill Clinton. An earlier ceremony was attended by Peres, Arafat and some of our former presidents…
7. 1996] A clear jewell: Federal prosecutors clear Richard Jewell as a suspect in the Olympic park bombing in Atlanta…
8. 2001] Patriot Act: President George W. Bush signs the USA Patriot Act, giving authorities unprecedented ability to search, seize, detain or eavesdrop in their pursuit of possible terrorists. This clip shows Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) questioning abuse of the act…
9. 2002] Russian justice: A hostage siege by Chechen rebels at a Moscow theater ends with 129 of the 800 plus captives dead, most from a knockout gas used by Russian special forces who storm the theater…
10. 2005] Fall Classic: The Chicago White Sox win their first World Series since 1917 by defeating Houston 1-0 in game 4. Steve Perry of Journey joins the celebration…

Music Memories:

• 1971] Gold Standard: “Tired Of Being Alone” - Al Green…
• 1978] Number One on this date:  “Hot Child In The City” - Nick Gilder…1982] “Who Can It Be Now” - Men At Work (my buds from Australia)…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“: Sasha Cohen (25), Keith Urban (42), Jeanne Zelasko (43), Natalie Merchant (46), Dylan McDermott (48), Bob Golic (52), Lauren Tewes (55), Jaclyn Smith (62),Hillary Rodham Clinton (62),  Pat Sajak (63) and Bob Hoskins (67)…

Timeline Countdown: 2 days before game 1 of the World Series, 5 nights until Halloween and 6 days until Standard (back one hour) Time…

This entry was posted on Monday, October, 26, 2009 at 07: 10:10 p10 and is filed under Today's Post. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.