New Yorker’s look to be spending a little bit more this holiday season on gifts, when compared to last year. Siena College recently reported it is expected that about 22% of those living in the state will be spending more, up from the 17% increase in 2021.
The level for excitement of the holiday season is also at an all time high as well, with 73% either being very or somewhat excited about the holiday season, an increase from 65% last year.
For those believing in the man in red, 39% now believe in Santa Claus, the highest it has ever been since Siena began to ask New Yorkers if they believed in Santa in 2010.
“New Yorkers are more excited about the holiday season than in any of the past 15 years, and they now believe in Santa more than in all the years Siena has asked about St. Nick, but more say that they are worse off financially now compared to last holiday season than those that say they are better off,” according to SCRI Director, Don Levy. “Still, nearly one in four plan to spend more on gifts this year than they did last year.”
Gift cards/certificates look to be the most popular item for gift giving with 66% of those participating in the survey stating they plan to purchase one.
