PayPal 2008 Holiday Survey

And now for a little good news...

The results of PayPal's 2008 Holiday Survey, announced yesterday, found that even in these tough times, people plan to be charitable this holiday season. Conducted by Ipsos, a  global survey-based market research company, from October 13 to October 20 via email invitation, with a sample size of a thousand people who indicated that they intend to shop online this season, the survey found that:

• Ten percent of respondents plan to give more to charity this year than they did last year; 
• Seventy-one percent plan to give the same amount as they did last year;
• Overall, 73 percent of online shoppers intend to give to charity this season, compared to 60 percent in 2007 (a 13 percent increase);
• Nearly 25 percent of online shoppers plan to buy electronic gift cards or "green" gifts such as organic foods, eco-conscious clothing, and recycled house wares this holiday season;
• Twenty-seven percent of shoppers age 45 and under plan to give green gifts;
• Even as online shoppers continue to make giving a priority, they plan to cut back on their spending (70 percent) and do more bargain shopping (45 percent).

"Our survey results show that even though people are cutting costs, they’re still planning to give back with donations and by choosing environmentally friendly gifts," said Cliff Hopkins, senior director,

PayPal

. "In times like these, while people are spending less on gifts, the spirit of giving around the holidays is still very much alive."

To learn more, click here.

-- Mitch Nauffts