New York City (NYC) Poll * November 26, 2008 * New Yorkers Are Suffering And - Quinnipiac University

Home> Institutes and Centers> Quinnipiac University Polling Institute> New York City (NYC)> Release Detail

November 26, 2008 - New Yorkers Are Suffering And Will Spend Less This Year, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; The Tree Is The Top Holiday Attraction

Word format Fifty-six percent of New York City voters say they are worse off financially than they were a year ago, with 24 percent who are better off and 19 percent who are the same, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. That includes 54 percent of white voters, 54 percent of black voters and 61 percent of Hispanic voters who say things got worse.
Only 28 percent expect their personal finances to get better in the next year, with 23 percent who expect them to get worse and 43 percent who say they will stay the same, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Only 22 percent of whites say things will get better, compared to 37 percent of blacks and 33 percent of Hispanics.
A total of 49 percent of voters say their finances are "excellent" or "good," while 49 percent say they are "not so good" or "poor." A total of 62 percent of whites, 40 percent of blacks and 35 percent of Hispanics say their finances are "excellent" or "good."
They will spend less on gifts this holiday season, 58 percent of New York City voters say. That includes 49 percent of white voters who are cutting back, compared to 62 percent of black voters and 65 percent of Hispanics. And 41 percent say that because of the economy, they've changed plans for a holiday trip and decided to stay in the City. Only 27 percent of whites say they have cancelled a holiday trip, compared to 51 percent of blacks and 55 percent of Hispanics.
"It's a blue, blue Christmas in New York this year, with people feeling the economic pain, buying less and cutting back on holiday travel," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD. "The economic pain is being felt especially by blacks and Hispanics.
"But blacks and Hispanics are much more optimistic than whites that things will get better."
Holiday Activities
In an open-ended question, allowing for any answer, 15 percent of New York City voters say 'The Tree' is their favorite thing to do or see in New York during the holidays. Other choices include:
12 percent say Rockefeller Center; 11 percent list visiting family and friends; 9 percent choose shopping; 8 percent say decorations/lights/displays; 7 percent say Radio City Music Hall; 5 percent say Fifth Avenue window displays.
Seven percent of New Yorkers plan to watch the Thanksgiving Day parade in person, while 52 percent plan to see it on television.
"In tough economic times, it's good to know there are things to do in New York City for the cost of a subway ride, as long as people can still afford the subway ride," Dr. Schwartz said.
From November 18 - 23, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,594 New York City registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and nationwide as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582- 5201.
17. Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as: Excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Excellent 4% 5% 4% 5% 7% 3% 1% Good 45 58 44 44 55 37 34 Not so good 34 29 34 39 29 39 43 Poor 15 5 17 11 8 21 20 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 1 - 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Excellent 3% 4% 7% 2% 5% 5% 3% Good 34 42 50 50 48 50 41 Not so good 40 39 26 32 39 33 36 Poor 22 14 14 14 6 11 18 DK/NA 1 1 2 1 3 1 2
TREND: Would you describe the state of your own personal finances these days as: Excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Nov 26 Feb 27 2008 2003 Excellent 4 5 Good 45 45 Not so good 34 35 Poor 15 13 DK/NA 1 2
18. Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Better off 24% 25% 23% 24% 22% 26% 22% Worse off 56 51 58 54 54 54 61 SAME(VOL) 19 22 18 22 23 20 16 DK/NA 1 2 - - 1 - 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Better off 21% 25% 24% 24% 23% 28% 20% Worse off 60 54 55 58 53 52 59 SAME(VOL) 17 20 20 18 24 19 20 DK/NA 1 1 1 - - 1 1
TREND: Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?
Nov 26 Feb 27 2008 2003 Better off 24% 31 Worse off 56 44 SAME(VOL) 19 23 DK/NA 1 2
19. During the next 12 months, do you think your own personal finances will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Get better 28% 27% 27% 32% 22% 37% 33% Get worse 23 18 24 22 28 17 16 Stay the same 43 50 44 38 45 41 46 DK/NA 6 6 5 8 5 5 5 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Get better 32% 28% 26% 27% 30% 29% 27% Get worse 24 24 27 19 19 23 23 Stay the same 37 42 41 48 48 43 42 DK/NA 7 7 5 6 4 5 7
TREND: During the next 12 months, do you think your own personal finances will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?
Nov 26 Feb 27 2008 2003 Get better 28% 38% Get worse 23 11 Stay the same 43 49 DK/NA 6 3
31. What is your favorite thing to do or see in New York City during the holiday season?
Tot Tree (Rockefeller Center) 15% Rockefeller Center/general 12% Visit friends & family 11% Shopping 9% Decorations/Lights/Displays/general 8% Radio City Music Hall/general 7% Fifth Avenue window displays 5% Theater/general 3% Skating (Rockefeller Center) 3% Cultural events 2% Restaurants 2% Museums/Metropolitan 2% Central Park 2% Enjoy the people/Christmas spirit 1% Parade/Macy's 1% Sightseeing/general 1% St Patrick's Cathedral/Churches 1% OTHER 4% DK/NA 7%
TREND: What is your favorite thing to see or do in New York City during the holiday season?
Nov 26 Nov 17 Dec 2 Dec 4 2008 2006 2003 2002 Decorations/Lights/ Displays/general 8 9 7 6 Fifth Avenue window displays 5 5 5 3 Rockefeller Center/general 12 17 8 13 Tree (in Rockefeller Ctr) 15 16 19 15 Skating (in Rockefeller Ctr) 3 2 2 2 Theater/general 3 2 1 5 Lincoln Center/Ballet/Opera/ Concerts/Cultural events 2 1 1 3 Radio City Music Hall/ general concerts 7 6 3 4 Manhattan/general - - 1 3 Shopping 9 7 7 10 St Patrick's Cathedral/ Churches 1 1 3 1 Visit friends & family 11 7 8 5 Enjoy the people/ Christmas spirit/Giving 1 2 1 3 OTHER 4 6 10 6 DK/NA 7 8 13 7
32. Thinking about your Thanksgiving holiday celebration this year - Do you plan to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade in person, on television, or don't you plan to watch the parade this Thanksgiving?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp In person 7% 6% 7% 6% 7% 5% 7% On television 52 56 52 51 48 53 57 Don't plan to watch 40 37 39 42 44 41 33 DK/NA 2 1 1 2 1 1 3 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom In person 7% 7% 9% 6% 1% 6% 7% On television 56 45 48 58 67 48 55 Don't plan to watch 34 46 43 35 31 44 36 DK/NA 2 2 - 1 1 2 2
TREND: Thinking about your Thanksgiving holiday celebration this year - Do you plan to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade in person, on television, or don't you plan to watch the parade this Thanksgiving?
Nov 26 Nov 17 Nov 21 Nov 22 Nov 26 2008 2006 2005 2004 2003 In person 7 8 8 9 7 On TV 52 55 49 49 47 Don't plan to watch 40 35 41 39 44 DK/NA 2 2 2 3 2
33. Thinking about this holiday season, do you plan to spend more on gifts this year than last year, less on gifts or about the same as last year?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp More 4% 7% 3% 5% 3% 4% 6% Less 58 46 60 55 49 62 65 Same 36 44 35 38 47 29 26 DK/NA 3 3 2 3 1 5 3 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom More 6% 4% 4% 2% 2% 5% 3% Less 61 58 56 57 55 53 62 Same 29 35 38 38 42 41 32 DK/NA 4 3 2 2 - 2 3
TREND: Thinking about this holiday season, do you plan to spend more on gifts this year than last year, less on gifts or about the same as last year?
Nov 26 Nov 17 Nov 26 2008 2006 2003 More 4 14 11 Less 58 24 32 About the same 36 58 53 DK/NA 3 5 4
34. Because of the economy, have you changed your plans for a holiday trip and decided to stay in the city?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp Yes 41% 26% 45% 35% 27% 51% 55% No 56 71 52 62 70 45 42 DK/NA 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 49% 44% 33% 43% 35% 41% 41% No 47 53 64 54 63 55 56 DK/NA 3 3 4 3 2 3 3