Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe HOLIDAY SPENDING PLANS Unemployment has jumped, the GDP is contracting, and U.S. manufacturing and service sectors are in decline -- but U.S. consumers say they won't let bad economic times or the "Grinch" of terrorism ruin their holiday spending plans. Advertisement The majority of the 1,019 people polled -- 57 percent -- plan to spend the same this holiday season as last year, 13 percent plan to spend more, and 28 percent plan to spend less. That's according to a survey released jointly by the Consumer Federation of American and the Credit Union National Association. At a news conference, CFA executive director Stephen Brobeck and CUNA chief economist Bill Hampel said the results of the second annual CUNA-CFA holiday spending survey were higher than the had expected. "Given significant declines in consumer confidence and the rise in unemployment, some reduction in holiday spending plans is not at all surprising. But these results suggest that the contraction in holiday spending may not be as pronounced as we might have expected," Hampel said. Advertisement In addition, Hampel and Brobeck noted, fewer consumers are worried about paying off current and future consumer debts -- 39 percent this year, compared to 48 percent last year. They said that one possible explanation for the survey results is that more Americans are paying off their debts or managing them more effectively than in the past. Another factor is declining interest rates, which have decreased interest obligations as a percentage of disposable personal income. Young adults, families, and those with low to moderate incomes expressed the most concern about meeting monthly debt payments and paying off credit card debts. SEARCH TOPICS Osama bin Laden edged out Halloween as the most searched topic on Lycos for the week ending Nov. 3. That's according to the Internet network Terra Lycos. It says most wanted terrorist suspect bin Laden took back the top spot on the Lycos 50 as Halloween dropped to number two. Thanksgiving debuted at No. 24, coming in a bit lower than last year, while Christmas moved back into the top 10 at No. 8 with Web users. Searches for Ramadan have yet to perk up. The holiday is making a big splash in news headlines, yet is barely causing a ripple online. Ramadan begins Nov. 16 and it needs five times as many searches as it's getting now to make it into The Lycos 50. Advertisement The Lycos 50 Top 10 Search Terms for the Week Ending Nov. 3, 2001: 1. Osama bin Laden 2. Halloween 3. Dragonball 4. Pumpkins 5. Anthrax 6. Britney Spears 7. Costumes 8. Christmas 9. Morpheus 10. Pokemon (Web site: terralycos.com) MENINGITIS Public health officials in Nebraska suspect contact between football players spread bacterial meningitis at three schools. The four players diagnosed so far are expected to recover, though one remains hospitalized. They attend three schools in southeast Nebraska: DeWitt Tri County, Wilber-Clatonia and Lincoln Lutheran. Health officials said they think the bacteria first spread from one player to another Oct. 19 when Tri County played Wilber-Clatonia and then on Oct. 25 when Wilber-Clatonia played Lincoln Lutheran. The potentially fatal meningitis bacteria infects the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can cause brain damage, hearing loss or death if left untreated. Symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, stiff neck. It spreads by exchange of fluids. Health officials speculate the disease may have been spread in huddles, tackling piles, nose-to-nose formations or at a drinking fountain. Cipro was prescribed for players and coaches at schools played in subsequent weeks even though no cases were reported. Advertisement
