Main News Desk

Holidaymakers ask: ‘What credit crunch?’

~ Avail Intelligence Trust Index defies summer gloom, but basic expenses still worry consumers ~

UK - August 11, 2008

Three quarters of consumers (74%) are refusing to let credit crunch reports dampen their holiday spirit – according to the latest Trust Index from e-commerce specialist Avail Intelligence.

57% of those surveyed said their holiday plans wouldn’t change because of the economic downturn. Nearly a quarter (17%) even stated they would increase their holiday spending this year.

The survey – the latest instalment of the Trust Index – found that very few consumers are actually cutting down on luxury spending. Only 17% on average indicated that they would spend less on items including holidays, books, CDs, home electronics and fashion.

However, more fundamental issues like interest rates and food prices continue to worry consumers, with 44% and 48% respectively expressing concern.

“There’s been so much speculation about consumer spending and the credit crunch – so it’s interesting to see that luxury items are still such a priority,” commented Rolf Elmer, CEO of Avail Intelligence. “However, more basic issues like rates and food prices – and more recently energy bills – have inevitably affected consumer confidence.”

The survey also asked what consumers were doing to maintain their lifestyles in a more restrictive economic climate:

Top five consumer thrift tips

1. Get on eBay

One man’s junk is another’s treasure, so put your unwanted goods up for auction online.

2. Recycle and FreeCycle

Check out www.freecycle.com and see what great stuff people are throwing away.

3. Credit crunch lunch

Lunch at work continues to drain resources. Make lunch at home and take advantage of special offers.

4. Shop around

Consign impulse buying to history and become a bargain hunter.

5. Keep a copper jar

Save up all your coppers and shrapnel – you’ll be surprised at what you save.

Executive quote

“There’s been so much speculation about consumer spending and the credit crunch – so it’s interesting to see that luxury items are still such a priority,” commented Rolf Elmer, CEO of Avail Intelligence. “However, more basic issues like rates and food prices – and more recently energy bills – have inevitably affected consumer confidence.”

About the company

About Avail Intelligence (http://www.avail.net)
Avail Intelligence is the leader in maximising the value of visitor traffic to e-commerce web sites. The company’s technology harnesses the community intelligence from site visitors to deliver the most effective shopping experience for new and returning customers.

Using advanced mathematical techniques from its research arm Avail Labs, Avail Intelligence has created the Avail eMarketing suite. The suite comprises a set of tools, which improve relevance when merchandising to and communicating with individual visitors across the entire Customer Interaction Cycle™ of a single web site or across multiple web sites.

The results are significant, immediate and measurable improvements to conversion rates and average order values.

Avail Intelligence’s technology is being used by over 80% of the leading Scandinavian e-commerce sites. Key UK customers include Woolworths, Berry Brothers and DVD.co.uk.

Contact details

For further press information and photography please contact:
Patrick Hussey at LEWIS, the PR agency
Tel: +44 (0) 161 601 7740 Fax: +44 (0) 161 601 7741
Email: avail@lewispr.com
Website: www.lewispr.com

Technorati tags: Avail Intelligence | Trust Index | Summer Story |

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Holidaymakers ask: ‘What credit crunch?’

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About the company

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