Brits at Risk of Becoming Layabouts
03 June 2009
87% now see gym membership as a luxury
Almost nine in ten (87%) of Britons now see gym membership as a luxury, according to research published today by Callcredit Marketing Solutions. The survey shows that cash-strapped Britons are shunning active pastimes for a more sedentary lifestyle and choosing cheaper leisure activities which involve no physical movement, such as watching TV or surfing the internet.
Almost three quarters (74%) of respondents consider broadband access a necessity to their lifestyle. This thirst for technology continues with 75% of consumers saying their mobile phone is essential, and almost a quarter (23%) saying that paid for TV and games consoles are necessities. On the flipside, 86% say that paid for sports and leisure activities are an added luxury to their daily lives.
The YouGov survey of 2,500 representative UK consumers also shows that physical activity is further under threat by car ownership: 75% consider their car necessary for their lifestyle. This figure is highest in the South East with 82% saying they need one, with the exception of London where only 53% consider a car to be a necessity.
Caroline Worboys, MD of Callcredit Marketing Solutions, says:
“British people work the longest hours in Europe and it is worrying that activities essential to our physical and mental wellbeing might be losing favour. We can only hope that consumers are looking to relax with cheaper alternatives that don’t break the bank."
“The financial situation has prompted people to rethink what they really need in life, but it’s not surprising that those products that make our lives easier are considered necessities and are likely to stay.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
About the Callcredit Information Group
Callcredit Information Group (www.callcreditgroup.com) brings together experts across the fields of credit referencing, marketing services, interactive solutions and consultative analytics to enable our client base of businesses and consumers to make informed decisions using our innovative products and services. The group is made up of two complementary divisions:
Marketing Solutions (www.callcreditmarketing.com) , providing specialist knowledge in customer analytics, consumer targeting, database building and hosting, marketing communications, business modelling and market analysis through three market leaders in their own fields: EuroDirect, Broadsystem and GMAP Consulting.
Credit Solutions, encompassing Callcredit, Legatio and DecisionMetrics – specialists in credit risk, ID verification services and tracing tools.
