New Citi Survey Finds Texans Making Significant Spending and Savings Changes but Have More Positive View of Economic Future Than Rest of the Country

Thu Nov 12, 2009 1:01am EST
 
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More Than Half Postponed Making Major Purchases; 38 Percent Have Taken Money Out
of Savings or Investments to Help Pay Expenses; More Than One-Third Working
Longer Hours to Make Ends Meet

Greater Confidence Concerning Improved Business Conditions and Personal
Financial Situation in the Year Ahead Compared to National Attitudes
DALLAS--(Business Wire)--
A new survey released today by Citi revealed that Texans are more optimistic
about their own personal finances and local business conditions than the nation
as a whole. In response to current economic concerns, however, Texas-area
residents continue to make dramatic changes in their personal behavior and
financial planning, including 57% who have postponed the purchase of a major
item such as an automobile, 38% who have taken money out of savings or
investments to help pay expenses and more than one third of Texans (34%) working
longer hours to make ends meet. 

Compared to national survey data released by Citi in September 2009, key
findings from Citi`s Texas survey illustrate:

* Three in five (62%) Texas residents believe that the country`s economic
conditions have a ways to go before hitting bottom, a figure nearly identical to
63% at the national level. 
* Two in three (67%) Texans expect that local business conditions will become
much or somewhat better over the next 12 months, compared to 57 percent
nationally who believe business conditions will get better in their area. 
* Seventy-two percent of Texan adults feel their own financial situation will
improve in the next year, compared to 65% nationally.

Despite this growing feeling of optimism, Texas residents still expressed
significant concerns about the state of today`s economy. Thirty-eight percent of
Texans rate the economy in their area as excellent or good, while 61% describe
the local economy as only fair or poor; this figure compares with 22% of
national survey participants that rate the economy as excellent or good. 

Just fewer than three in ten (28%) Texans cite the cost of health care as the
element of America`s economy that worries them most today, with 24% expressing
greater concern with the amount they pay for necessities such as food and
gasoline. 

"Although the impact of the economic downturn on Texas-area residents cannot be
underestimated, it is encouraging that more consumers are beginning to feel
renewed confidence in the housing market and that the worst might be behind
us,"saidKathleen Gibson, Central Division President, U.S. Commercial Banking,
Citibank. "Citi is committed to providing the tools, services and expertise
necessary to enable our customers to make that brighter economic future a
reality." 

Growing Confidence Surrounding the Housing Market

Looking specifically at the housing market, fully 82% of Texans expect the value
of homes in their state will either rise or remain the same over the next twelve
months. By more than three to one, Texas homeowners believe that they could sell
their houses today for more than they originally paid for their homes. Nearly
one in three (32%) Texans believe that the value of homes in their area will go
up in the next 12 months, with 16% saying they will go down, and 50% believing
they will remain at the same value. Fifty-eight percent of Texas homeowners
believe that if they put their house on the market today, they would be able to
sell it for more than they paid, compared with 17% who feel they would have to
sell it for less and 23% that believe they could sell their homes for roughly
the same price. 

"As we continue to serve our customers in Texas, surveys like these provide
valuable insights that help us gain a deeper understanding of our clients, their
needs and aspirations," continuedGibson. "As one of the leading financial
services providers in Texas, Citi remains committed to helping consumers learn
more about how best to manage their money and plan for a more secure financial
future." 

Survey Methodology

Hart Research Associates conducted the telephone survey of 500 adults in Texas
from September 12 to 15, 2009. The Random Digit Dialed (RDD) survey has an
overall statistical margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage
points. Hart conducted the national survey of 2,005 adults nationally between
September 1-5, 2009. It has a sampling error of plus or minus 2.2 percentage
points. The survey also included a sample of respondents who use only a mobile
telephone. 

About Citi

Citi, the leading global financial services company, has approximately 200
million customer accounts and does business in more than 140 countries. Through
Citicorp and Citi Holdings, Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments
and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services,
including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking,
securities brokerage, and wealth management. Additional information may be found
at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com. 

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6098115&lang=en

Citi
Media contact:
Liz Fogarty, 212-559-0486 

Copyright Business Wire 2009

 

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