GAINESVILLE - A survey of 20,000 North Georgia homes and businesses finds 55 percent of respondents did not change their normal activities this year because of the recession.
However, of those who did change... it was in "consumer patterns" - changing their eating-out habits and cutting back on entertainment spending and buying "off" brands instead of "store" brands.
That's according to The Norton Agency's President, Frank Norton, Jr., who discussed the survey Wednesday morning during an appearance on The Local Hour on WDUN NEWS TALK 550.
Norton, who is conducting the survey for inclusion in The Norton Agency's 2010 economic forecast, which will be presented January 21 and carried live on accessnorthga.com, said he is finding the results "fascinating" - adding, people are still spending, but just spending in "different directions."
Norton said the idea for the survey came from his son, Tripp, a student at Georgia Tech, who was taking a class about consumer attitudes and changes and thought it would be a good ida for inclusion in his dad's economic forecast this year. The elder Norton said he plans to make it an annual part of his report.
On the real estate front, Norton said there are continuing signs of recovery but he still thinks it will be "a slow one, very slow." He said there are still lots of houses for sale and "no new houses are being built but he added the lake is full again and that has renewed interest in lakeside residential property. And, he added, foreclosures are down.
The meeting on January 21 at which Norton will present the 2010 economic forecast will be the 24th annual presentation. It will be held at the Gainesville Civic Center beginning with a reception at 5:30. The program begins at 6:00.
Friday
April 26th, 2024
2:06PM
