BIGresearch: Over 90% Say Economic Crisis Will Impact Lifestyle Over Next Five Years

Consumers to Consider Purchases More Carefully, Ponder Price More and Follow a Budget

COLUMBUS, OH -- (MARKET WIRE) – 3/17/09 – In a sign of the times, 90.7% of consumers say the current economic crisis will impact their lifestyle in some fashion over the next five years, according to the March 2009 Consumer Intentions & Actions (CIA) Survey from BIGresearch (http://www.bigresearch.com).

Considering each purchase more carefully (55.2%) tops the list of ways the crisis will impact lifestyle among adults 18+, followed by being more price conscious when buying food and clothing (50.7%) and trying to stick to a budget (48.1%).

Do you think the current economic crisis will impact your lifestyle over the next 5 years in any of the following ways?

                                                         Adults 18+
I will consider each purchase more carefully         55.2%
I will be more price conscious when buying           50.7%
clothing and food
I will try to stick to a budget                      48.1%
I will spend less dining out                         46.3%
I will not incur a large credit card debt            43.4%
I will spend less on entertainment (movies,          39.2%
concerts, nightclubs, sporting events, etc.)
I will save more of what I earn                      36.3%
I will be more conservative when buying a car        30.1%
I will pay off my credit card each month             29.0%
I will not run up home equity debt                   28.1%
I will take more practical vacations                 23.3%

Source: BIGresearch, CIA-Mar 09

Further, 49.7% of consumers say the economy will rebound to what it was prior to the current financial situation, 21.9% say it won’t, while 28.4% aren’t sure.

“Although half of Americans think the economy will bounce back to pre-recession levels, financial troubles have obviously impacted the American consumer psyche,” said Gary Drenik, President & CEO of BIGresearch. “Marketers will need to understand that this ‘new’ consumer is one that focuses more on needs over wants, purchase price and an increased level of personal savings.”

For additional complimentary data (including gender, income, ages and census region): http://info.bigresearch.com/.

About BIGresearch
BIGresearch is a consumer intelligence firm providing analysis of behavior in areas of products and services, retail, financial services, automotive and media. BIGresearch conducts the monthly Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey (CIA) of 8,000+ respondents and the semi-annual Simultaneous Media Survey (SIMM) of 15,000+ respondents. More information is available at http://www.bigresearch.com

Contact:
Chrissy Wissinger
BIGresearch
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chrissy@bigresearch.com