Harris investment poll:
Americans Will Not Change Investment Decisions or Behavior Due to Attack; Most Americans Expect Stock Market to Drop - but 99% Don't Plan to Sell Stock
Willing to Give up Some Freedoms, but Won't Change Personal Behaviors for Added Security
prnewswire.com
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Even though expecting additional
financial downturn, Americans will not spend less or alter their investment
decisions, and won't necessarily change their personal behavior apart from
cutting down on their flying, particularly over the next few days in the wake
of Tuesday's terrorist attacks. So found Harris Interactive (Nasdaq: HPOL), a
leading global consulting and market research company as a result of its
Internet poll of more than 4600 U.S. adults.
The "won't sell" paradox
The poll indicates that, at least in the short term, Americans won't
change their investment/spending habits. The poll also found that many
Americans believe that the investment/financial situation in the U.S. will
worsen in the weeks to come and that the stock market in particular will
suffer. However, there is a striking paradox between the large numbers who
believe that stocks will go down a lot (42%) or a little (37%) and the fact
that only 1% say they will sell stocks. Furthermore, of all the different
types of investments we asked about, stocks were mentioned as a worse
investment the most often (51%).
Q: Which of the following do you think you will probably do because of
Tuesday's terrorist attacks?
No Yes
Sell stocks I own 99% 1%
Spend less and/or save more 77% 23%
Keep more cash on hand 81% 19%
Q: Over the next few weeks, do you think stocks will go up a lot, go up a
little, stay about the same, or go down a little or go down a lot?
Go up a lot 2%
Go up a little 7%
Stay about the same 9%
Go down a little 30%
Go down a lot 35%
Not sure 17%
Q: Because of Tuesday's events, do you think that the following will be
better or worse investments over the next weeks and months?
Investment type Worse About the Better Not Sure?
Investment? Same? Investment?
Stocks 51% 21% 7% 21%
Corporate bonds 32% 32% 5% 31%
Mutual funds 32% 35% 6% 28%
Money market funds 29% 36% 7% 28%
Government bonds 22% 33% 20% 25%
Bank/savings deposits 16% 56% 9% 20%
Real estate 14% 54% 10% 22%
Gold/precious metals 10% 35% 31% 24%
It appears many Americans who are now more worried about their personal
safety would be willing to give up some freedom for more safety. However,
most don't expect to change their personal lives.
Yes No
Would you be willing to give up some personal
freedoms in order to have more security in public 80% 20%
places?
Are you likely to change any aspect of your
personal life or routine in order to reduce the 35% 65%
chances of becoming a victim of terrorism?
Q: Which of the following do you think you will probably do because of
today's terrorist attacks?
Yes No
Would you be afraid to fly on an airplane
in the next few days? 64% 36%
Avoid flying for the next few months? 37% 63%
Buy more emergency supplies to have at home? 23% 77%
Cut down on visits to big cities and other
possible targets? 27% 73%
Cancel or reduce overseas travel? 15% 85%
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