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James Debono
GRTU’s Director General Vince Farrugia’s claim that the coming Christmas is expected to be the best for businesses in the last years is not matched by the findings of a survey conducted by results of MaltaToday.
PN voters are the only category planning to spend more than last year.
Albeit for a small increase in the number of people who plan to celebrate Christmas and the New Year in a restaurant or hotel and those planning to travel abroad, the indications do not show any hard evidence of renewed consumer confidence.
While 14 per cent of all respondents claim that they will be spending more on presents this year, 27 per cent claim that they will be spending less. Nearly half the total number of respondents will be spending the same amount of money as last year.
Even when it comes to charity donations most respondents will be giving the same amount as last year. While 8 per plan to donate more money than last year, 9 per cent plan to give less.
The only category of respondents who plan to spend more on presents and donate more money in charity are PN voters -an indication that the budget was renewed confidence among the party’s upper middle class core. Tax cuts announced in the last budget were tailor made for this category but did not effect substantially other social categories.
This could be an indication that the highest spending groups who traditionally support the PN will make up for the declining purchasing power of other social groups.
Among respondents who would vote for the PN in a forthcoming election 17 per cent plan to spend more on presents than they did in 2005. But even among PN voters a substantial 13 per cent would spend less.
While 10 per cent of PN voters plan to give more in charity than last year, only 2 per cent would give less.
But the feel good factor does not permeate other categories of voters. No evidence of an increase in purchasing power is found among non aligned voters- a category grouping together undecided, non-voters and AD supporters.
Only 11 per cent of non-aligned voters will be spending more on presents. On the other hand 31 per cent will be spending less than last year. The majority-47 per cent- will be spending the same amount as last year.
The worst off category are Labour voters where a substantial 39 per cent plan to spend less on presents while 19 per cent plan to donate less in charity than last year.
Celebrating Christmas and New Year
Even when it comes to celebrating Christmas and New Year, respondents display the same patterns as last year with an absolute majority preferring to celebrate in their own home or in a relative’s home.
While 86 per cent-the same figure of last year, plan to celebrate Christmas in their own home or at a relative, 35.4 plan to do like wise on New year’s Eve. A large number-19 per cent- are still undecided what to do for New Year’s Eve.
The number of those attending organised parties is also set to double from 2 to 4 per cent.
Compared to last year, the number of people planning to have the traditional Christmas lunch in a hotel or restaurant increased by 1 per cent.
The number of those welcoming the New Year in a hotel or restaurant is also expected to increase from 10.4 to 11.8 per cent.
Travelling abroad
The number of people who will be abroad on Christmas Day is set to increase from 0.7 in 2005 to 1.1 per cent this year. Those celebrating the New Year abroad are also expected to increase substantially from 0.3 to 2 per cent-an indication that the arrival of low cost airlines is having an impact on air travel.
The number of people who will be travelling abroad in December and January is also set to rise by 1 per cent.
The most popular destination for those travelling in the Christmas season is the United Kingdom, followed by Italy and France.
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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