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American Consumers Turn to Worrying -- Not Shopping

Study finds new pessimism weighing down consumers

May 20, 2008

In April 2007, consumers were hedging, saying that they "did not want to spend the money right now" (31.4%); this year that number dropped to 23.5%.

"This year most consumers did not even try to shop," said C. Britt Beemer, founder and CEO of ARG, "They just stayed home to save on gas prices." He called the new consumer mindset a negative sign for retailers at least into 2009.

The big worry factors for consumers are higher gas prices (26.5%), waiting for a tax refund (26%), job security (11.2%) and credit card debt (9.7%). One year ago, consumers said that a major purchase was "more than they wanted to spend," "couldn't find what they wanted," didn't have time," all of which registered at 0.0% this year.

At the time, they were less concerned about higher gas prices (17.0%) and job security (5.2%) and not at all worried about credit card debt.

The study of 800 telephone interviews with adult consumers in early May 2008, with an error factor of plus or minus 4.3%, was compared with the study of 1,000 adults in May 2007 with an error factor of plus or minus 3.8%.

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