December 13th, 2023, Kineree Shah
As winter envelops the US, what kind of activities do Americans prefer to entertain themselves with during the colder months?
Topping the list are visits to the movie theater and spending time with friends and family, (42%). Shopping is next (38%) but two-thirds anticipate inflation will have a moderate to major impact on their plans. Attending indoor events is also preferred by the same proportion of Americans. The desire to socialize is greater with about a third opting to attend other people's parties (33%), explore new experiences (32%), and host dinners (30%).
Three in 10 Americans prefer to work-out during winter (30%) while activities like walking (29%) and looking to travel (26%) are on the agenda for more than a quarter of Americans. Cultural pursuits like visiting museums, attending theatre shows, and going to concerts each attract about a quarter of the populace (23-24%) as winter activities. Bars, comedy shows, and sightseeing are slightly less popular but still significant, with around 20% engagement. Sporting events (16%), playing sports (12%), and attending outdoor performances (9%) round off the list, each chosen by a smaller yet substantial proportion of consumers.
Preference for wintertime leisure activities varies by age. Going to the movie theater is most popular among Gen Z, Millennials, and Gex X (43-45%), but less so with the Silent Generation (28%). Visiting friends and family is a top choice for Baby Boomers (50%) and the Silent Generation (46%), indicating a higher preference for socializing in older generations. While Gen X shows a strong inclination towards winter shopping (43%), the younger generation, Gen Zand Millennials, have a lower interest in this activity (35-36%). Exercise routines are most diligently followed by Gen X (36%), with a drop in interest observed among Gen Z (29%).
Make smarter business decisions with better intelligence. Understand exactly what your audience is thinking by leveraging our panel of 20 million+ members. Speak with us today.
Methodology: YouGov Profiles is based on continuously collected data and rolling surveys, rather than from a single limited questionnaire. Profiles data for the US is nationally representative and weighted by age, gender, education, region, and race. Learn more about Profiles.