Americans' holiday generosity appears to have shifted fundamentally in the wake of the financial crisis.
A study released Monday by World Vision indicates that 71% of American adults surveyed reported that they would spend less on holiday presents this year because of the current economic climate. This number has remained nearly constant for three of the last four years: 69% expected to spend less in 2010, 57% in 2009 and 71% in 2008.
The study of U.S. and Canadian adults, conducted by Harris Interactive from Oct. 26–30, also found that Americans want their dollars to mean more. Fifty-one percent said they were now more likely to give a charitable gift as a holiday present this year. The same number gave this answer last year, 38% did so in 2009 and 49% in 2008.
