Survey Says People are Most Stressed About Spending Money this Holiday Season

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, November 25, 2008: LG Electronics, a worldwide technology and design leader in mobile communications, conducted a holiday survey throughout Asia, the U.K., Australia and Brazil to find out what people want as holiday season draws near.

A total of 15,743 people around the world responded to the online survey which ran from November 11th to the 23rd, 2008 in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, the U.K., Australia and Brazil.

Based on the survey result which proved mobile phones are becoming the top choice for holiday gifts, LG will make that wish come true by giving people a chance to win one of the ‘most wanted’ mobile phones launched in 2008: the latest handset of the Black Label Series, LG Secret, the ultimate 8-megapixel LG Renoir camera phone and the ‘just-released’ easy-to-use full touch screen, LG Cookie through the special “2008 LG Holiday Gift Promotion (for Malaysia my.lgholidaygift.com) starting from November 25th until December 14th, 2008.

And what else did LG learn about people’s holiday desires and concerns?

The common ties that interlink the global economy were very evident when people were asked about what is most stressful about this year’s holiday season. The top response from all surveyed universally noted that limited spending money was the most pressing problem over all other choices.

However, the financial pressures are not stopping people in Hong Kong and Australia from going on a holiday shopping spree who indicated they would be spending over $500. People in the U.K., Singapore and Brazil will spend $100 to $300. Malaysians said they would be spending $50 to $100.

When respondents were asked which celebrity they like to kiss under the mistletoe, Jessica Alba was the overwhelming choice by Malaysians, Singaporeans, Australians and Britons in the woman’s category. Angelina Jolie was the top choice of Brazilians. In the men’s category, Malaysians, Singaporeans and Brazilians together picked Brad Pitt for a mistletoe embrace, and respondents in Australia and the U.K. chose their native son, Hugh Jackman and Jude Law for the most desired holiday kiss. People from Hong Kong picked David Beckham and Nicole Kidman.

As for the holiday wishes, most people in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, the U.K. and Australia indicated that they would prefer to spend the holidays with Santa Claus rather than the U.S. President, the Queen of England, the Pope. Brazilians chose Prince Charming as the person they would like to spend the holidays with.

Posed with the question about their dream way to spend the holiday, taking a luxury cruise was the top choice among Malaysians, Australians, and Singaporeans. People in Hong Kong preferred to spend it vacationing in the snowy Alps and Britons and Brazilians thought the best way to spend the holidays was snuggled up in front of a fireplace.

And the number one holiday song? In Hong Kong, Brazil and Australia, the holiday staple, “Jingle Bells” was the most popular song. Singaporeans picked Dean Martin’s “Let it Snow” and those surveyed in Malaysia chose Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” as the most favoured holiday ballads. In the U.K., Slade’s rocking “Merry Christmas Everybody” was the top pick.

For all countries except for the U.K. and Brazil, text messaging remains the first choice for wishing people well during the holidays, which received many more votes over greetings cards, phone calls and multimedia messaging. Brazilians preferred calling someone as their preferred way to extend their holiday greetings and Britons still like greeting cards to send holiday cheer.

For gifts they would like to receive, respondents in all the U.K., Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong preferred a vacation package as their foremost gift, whereas Australians and Brazilians prefer getting the latest electronic gadget.