BIGresearch's Consumer Intentions & Actions Survey monitors over 8,000 consumers each month providing unique insights & identifying opportunities in a fragmented and transitory marketplace. . Here are some of January's results and broken down for you to examine plus integrate into your business and personal planning - focus on Economy and Personal/Financial.

TVBR observation:
Provided by TVBR to help you succeed in business and with your personal goals. (Respondents surveyed 1/04 - 1/11/06):

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ECONOMY

Consumers start 2006 off with a bang...confidence is up! 48.2% now say they are very confident/confident in chances for a strong economy, up about 41/2 points from last month, and down only half a point from last year (48.7%).

With the late December announcement to reduce the number of US troops in Iraq, those concerned with political/national security issues on the decline...16.1% continue to worry, down from 20.2% last month and 19.0% in January 2005.

The holiday shopping buzz still hasn't worn off...with post-holiday bargains still to be had, fewer consumers contend they've become more practical and realistic in their purchases, now at 45.0% (v. 45.5% in December), although an increase from the same time last year (39.7%).

Likewise, those concerned with needs over wants also declines in January...the majority (51.5%) continue to focus more on needs, down almost 4 points from last month (55.2%), but on the rise from January 2005 (46.2%).

PERSONAL/FINANCIAL

Confidence in the future of the US employment environment also improves in the new year...this month, about one in three (34.5%) predict "more" layoffs over the next 6 months (down from 41.8% in December), while 52.8% say "same" (v. 45.2%), and 12.7% contend "fewer" (v. 13.0%). Those concerned about their personal employment situation down slightly...4.5% worry about being laid off (v. 4.8% last month), down from 5.3% a year ago.

The good news keeps on coming...with the Dow recently closing above 11,000 for the first time since June 2001, investor confidence in the stock market also on the rise. 62.3% would definitely/probably invest, up from 58.0% last month. Investors planning to buy stock rises to 14.0% (v. 12.3% in December), while those planning to sell down slightly to 6.6% from 6.9% last month.

However, as holiday bills begin to arrive, more are planning to pay down debt in the next 3 months, 41.6% say so (up from 39.6% last month). Well-intentioned consumers also plan to increase savings, up almost a point to 30.7% from December (30.0%). Though with retailers clearing out holiday merchandise, confident consumers (many of whom are armed with gift cards...see "Retail" section) aren't quite as tempted to cut back on spending...34.1% plan to decrease overall spending, a 1 point decline from last month (35.2%). Those planning to pay with cash more often down slightly to 26.2%.

With drivers becoming accustomed to $2+/gallon for gas, almost one in three (32.0%) in January say prices at the pump are making "no major impact" on spending, a rise from 29.8% last month. But don't let this figure fool you...one year ago, the majority (51.8%) contended that the cost of How are consumers coping with the other increasing energy expense - home heating? With many states enjoying a mild January, 58.3% are simply lowering their thermostat. 46.6% are bundling up indoors, 22.0% are sticking to lower-priced stores for necessities, while 21.5% are cutting back spending on other goods and services.

RETAIL

Sales aren't officially registered until gift card redemption, so the holiday season hasn't yet ended for retailers...and with the majority (51.8%) of consumers with at least one holiday gift card in their pocket, a whopping 46.0% have yet to redeem any portion of their cards.

Not surprisingly, the younger, 18-34 year old crowd was among the first to cash in...25.6% have spent the balance of their cards, while only 38.1% have yet to spend any. Those 35-54 have been a little bit more hesitant to splurge...46.0% have yet to use any of their gift cards, while 23.0% have used them up. And perhaps waiting for a raining day, the majority (54.4%) of those 55+ hasn't touched the balance on their cards; only 13.8% have redeemed the full amount.

So what about the gift card givers? The average shopper purchased about 2 gift cards, spending about $135.28. One in three (32.3%) purchased department store cards, 23.0% opted for restaurants, 19.9% gave the gift of savings with discount store cards, 15.0% bought book store gift cards, while 12.7% went high-tech with cards from electronics stores.

It may be January, but we're not finished talking about holiday shopping...55.6% of consumers purchased at least one gift online, that number rising among higher incomes ($50,000+ households: 66.4% v. under $50,000 households: 50.2%) and younger age groups (18-34: 57.9%, 35-54: 58.4%, 55+: 49.3%). What sites did shoppers make most of their purchases from? 18.3% cited Amazon, 13.0% said eBay, followed by WalMart.com (4.7%), Overstock.com (3.1%), and JCPenney.com (1.4%).