Los Angeles, Calif., Nov. 17, 2009 — PriceGrabber.com®, a part of Experian, explores current trends in holiday shopping in its latest Holiday Trends Consumer Behavior Report which includes survey responses from 4,691 online consumers conducted from Sept. 24 to Nov. 2, 2009. Survey data reveals that, while the recession will continue to play a significant role during the 2009 holiday season, there are some consumer trends towards indulgencies and convenience this year.
Indulgences included on gift lists
The recession is going to impact this year’s holiday shopping season, with 54 percent of consumers planning to spend less, 42 percent planning to spend the same amount and only 5 percent spending more than last year. Survey data also suggests a trend toward more indulgent gift-giving, with 58 percent of consumers planning to give practical gifts compared with 66 percent last year.
Consumers are not only planning to give more generous gifts this year, but they also would like to receive them. When consumers were asked what one gift they are personally wishing for or shopping for this holiday season, some of the top responses included high-end electronics and jewelry. For the top 15 list, see below:
Consumers turn to the Internet for convenience
Not only are consumers willing to purchase more luxury items this year, but their focus also has switched from saving money to convenience. Survey data revealed that two-thirds of consumers plan to spend at least half of their holiday budget online. When consumers were asked what appeals to them most about shopping and purchasing online during the holiday season, 33 percent of consumers cited the convenience of shopping anytime from anywhere. Twenty-seven percent of consumers revealed ease of comparing prices to find the lowest price as most appealing, which has decreased considerably from 38 percent last year. Another 22 percent of consumers stated that avoiding stressful crowds and parking is the most appealing reason to shop online.
PriceGrabber.com will continue to track the impact of the economy on holiday trends. To view the full Consumer Behavior Report on economic trends and consumer spending, visit http://www.pricegrabber.com/about.php/about=press/sub_opt=15.
About PriceGrabber.com
PriceGrabber.com, part of Experian InteractiveSM, has established itself as one of the most trusted and effective online comparison shopping services, allowing approximately 23 million consumers each month to search and compare information that enables them to find the right product from the right retailer at the best price. Through continued innovation and a consistent focus on providing the best comparison shopping experience on the Internet, PriceGrabber.com provides savvy shoppers access to millions of unique products and services from thousands of retailers and sellers in 25 product channels. Compare products side-by-side to find the right retailers at the best prices within popular categories, such as Digital Cameras, Dinnerware, Electronics, Furniture, Laptops and more. The company also powers comparison shopping functionality for a network of leading Internet sites, including Bing, AOL Shopping, About.com, Time Warner, PC World, Consumer Reports, Comcast and CNET. The company offers comparison shopping in English (at http://www.pricegrabber.com), Spanish (at http://www.preciomania.com) and Portuguese (at http://www.precomania.com) as well as international sites in Canada and the United Kingdom.
PriceGrabber.com is headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. PriceGrabber is a registered trademark, and PriceGrabber.com and BottomLinePrice™ are trademarks of PriceGrabber.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
About Experian
Experian® is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients in more than 65 countries. The company helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score and protect against identity theft.
Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended March 31, 2009, was $3.9 billion. Experian employs approximately 15,000 people in 40 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; Costa Mesa, California; and São Paulo, Brazil.
For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.
Experian and the marks used herein are service marks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc.
Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Contact:
Michelle Kane
PriceGrabber.com
1 323 601 1289 Telephone
mkane@pricegrabber.com Email
Eve McGrath
Rubenstein Public Relations
1 212 843 8490 Telephone
emcgrath@rubensteinpr.com Email