Americans' Worries, Confident Owners, Etc.

In the hierarchy of Americans' fears, bill collectors loom larger than terrorists. An Ipsos-Public Affairs survey found 30 percent of adults worry "frequently" and 21 percent "occasionally" about not being able to pay their bills. Twelve percent worry frequently and 28 percent occasionally about being a victim of terrorism. Terrorists who are bad drivers might cause more urgent fear: 20 percent of adults worry frequently and 34 percent occasionally about being hurt in an auto accident. One oddity: The number of respondents who think it "very likely" there will be a terrorist attack involving nuclear weapons in the next five years (15 percent) is a little higher than the number who often worry about it (13 percent). If you haven't burst into tears on the job, consider yourself ahead of the game. In a Self magazine survey of working women age 18-49, 54 percent said they've been driven to tears in the workplace. And that's just the most obvious manifestation of on-the-job stress. Twenty-two percent said they're too busy to take a lunch hour; 41 percent "feel as if they're powerless to control the stress level at work"; 56 percent said work-related stress "is hurting their relationships." As if they don't feel enough stress during the day, 37 percent bring work home at night. And it's not as if they're ducking out early: "39 percent of women won't leave work if coworkers are still there burning the midnight oil."It's become conventional wisdom that consumers now face an overabundance of choice when they go to the store. Nonetheless, polling by WSL Strategic Retail finds there are categories in which double-digit percentages of shoppers wish they had more options (see the chart). On the other end of the spectrum are categories where people are indifferent to the number of choices because they invariably buy the same one. Thirty-five percent of respondents said they approach pet foods in that way. Among other categories with many choice-indifferent loyalists are shampoo (32 percent), laundry detergent (32 percent) and pain relievers (31 percent). Thank goodness someone is optimistic. A sudden drop last week in the consumer-confidence numbers suggests that the latest runup in gasoline prices is finally getting to people. But last week also brought us news that the proprietors of small businesses are feeling quite upbeat these days. In polling conducted by International Communications Research for American Express, 85 percent of small-business owners said they see "growth opportunities for their companies over the next six months." That's up from 72 percent last spring. Just 7 percent said they expect their revenues to be lower this year than last year, while 57 percent think they'll be higher. Fewer owners report worries about cash flow (50 percent now, 62 percent last year); more anticipate making capital investments in the next six months (66 percent vs. 59 percent). Computers and software are the top items on the respondents' shopping lists, followed by office equipment and furniture.

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Americans' Worries, Confident Owners, Etc.

Mark Dolliver

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Mark Dolliver