Some Spending Is Untouchable

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Even as Americans batten down their financial hatches, some kinds of spending remain sacrosanct. A poll conducted for last month’s issue of the National Retail Federation’s Stores magazine found 81 percent of respondents saying expenditures for Internet service were among the “untouchables.” Majorities said the same about cell-phone service (64 percent) and cable TV (61 percent). Fewer cited discount shopping for apparel (43 percent), haircuts and coloring (40 percent), fast-food meals (37 percent) and new shoes (24 percent).

A Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll took its own look at the topic last month, providing a menu of choices and asking respondents to pick their top “must-have” — that is, the one non-essential item they’ll continue spending on during tough times.

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