Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/437144
23 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 21 DECEMBER 2014 AMONG the 18-34 age group, in- ternet shopping and shopping malls are more popular than street shops when it comes to Christmas gifts. Sliema has surpassed Valletta again as the main shopping destination: while Valletta saw a six-point drop from last year, shopping from Sliema has increased slightly. The MaltaToday survey shows that 30% of respondents said they buy most of their Christmas presents from the internet. But the percent- age increases to 65% among under 34-year-olds. Respondents were allowed to men- tion up to two different types of retail outlets in the survey. The survey shows that while the Internet is most popular among 18 to 34-year-olds, shopping malls are more popular among those aged be- tween 35 and 54-year-old. Street shops are most popular among those over 55. Of this age group, 46% prefer to give cash gifts. None of those aged under 35 inter- viewed expressed the same prefer- ence. The survey also shows that second- ary and primary-school educated re- spondents are the most likely to buy presents from street shops; while uni- versity and post-secondary educated respondents are the most likely to buy presents from the internet and shop- ping malls. Tal-lira 'pound' shops, supermar- kets and flea markets are most popu- lar among those with a lower level of education. This could reflect lower levels of income among these groups. The survey also shows that Sliema is the preferred locality for Christmas presents among those aged under 55, while Valletta is preferred by those age over 55. Sliema is also the preferred shop- ping locality among respondents with a secondary, post-secondary and ter- tiary education while Valletta prevails among those with a primary educa- tion. University-educated respond- ents were the least likely to buy from Paola and Hamrun. Those over 55 are the most likely to buy presents from outside the main shopping localities. In fact 12% of over 55-year-olds buy presents from smaller towns and villages. MaltaToday Survey Have the Internet and shopping malls killed the high street? From where will you buy your presents? Total By Age By Education 18-34 35-54 55+ Uni Post-Sec Sec Primary Shopping malls 34.6 56.5 35.2 19.7 48 59.1 30 10.3 Street shops 30.3 34.8 34.3 29.2 40 18.2 35.3 25 The internet 29.9 65.2 25.7 5.1 38.5 50 18 4.4 Cash gifts 23.3 0 22.9 46 8 9.1 32 51.5 Supermarket 2.5 0 3.8 3.6 0 0 3.3 5.9 Flea market 1.8 0 1.9 3.6 0 4.5 4 1.5 Tal-Lira pound shop 1.1 0 1.9 1.5 0 0 1.3 2.9 Nothing 2.8 0 2.9 5.8 0 0 4 7.4 Sliema 33.6 52.2 41 12.4 52 54.4 34 4.4 Valletta 33 43.5 39 20.4 48 50 31.3 11.8 Paola/Fgura 10.3 13 9.5 8.8 4 13.6 12 4.4 Hamrun 8.5 8.7 11.4 5.8 0 13.6 6.7 10.3 Birkirkara 3.7 4.3 4.8 2.9 0 0 6 2.9 Mosta 1.7 0 2.9 2.2 0 0 2.7 1.5 Rabat [Gozo] 3.7 4.3 2.9 4.4 4 4.5 4 2.9 Other 5.2 0 3.8 11.7 0 0 4 4.4 Nothing 16.3 8.7 10.5 32.8 8 13.6 17.3 39.7 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Sliema 25 22.2 30.3 32.4 26.1 32.7 33.6 Valletta 44.5 39.4 32.6 30.3 25.4 39.7 33 Paola/Fgura 5.9 10.2 6.2 8.5 8 9.7 10.3 Hamrun 3.9 10.2 5.1 3.5 5.5 8.6 8.5 Birkirkara 2 5.5 7.6 3.9 3.3 6.6 3.7 Mosta 3.9 4.9 2.3 3.2 2.2 2.8 1.7 Rabat Gozo 4.7 6.5 4.8 7.2 7.2 5.1 2.9 Other 3.1 6.2 3.5 3.6 7.9 8.5 5.2 Decline of the capital city % of respondents who indicated locality of preference to do their Christmas shopping 13.3% 63.1% 23.6% Happier Sadder The same 6.8% 16% 7.4% 16.9% 11% 29.2% 26.8% 25.8% 82.2% 54.8% 65.8% 57.3% Go to Midnight Mass Don't go to Midnight Mass More money to spend in 2014 Less money to spend in 2014 Do you feel happier at Christmas Eve? happier than usual while 16% feel sadder. Interestingly, having more money to spend is less a factor in contrib- uting to happiness in the Yuletide period. In fact while 66% of those with more money to spend than last year feel happier in the period, 57% of those with less money to spend than last year still feel happier at this time of the year. While the survey may indicate that participation in the religious ritual may contribute to happiness at this time of the year, it may well be that people who are happier at Christmas time are more disposed to participate in the ritual. Moreo- ver people who participate in com- munity rituals may be less likely to experience a sense of anomie. Religiously oriented people may also give more value to feasts like Christmas, thus feeling happier. The survey shows that older re- spondents are more likely to par- ticipate in the midnight mass. In fact 35% of over 55 year olds partic- ipate in this ritual. Participation at midnight mass falls to 20% among those aged 35 to 54 but rises to 23% among those aged under 34 years of age. The survey also shows that people who do not decorate their homes at Christmas are generally unhappy in this period of the year. The survey shows that only 3.4% do not decorate their homes in this period and while none of these feels happier during this period, 67% of those who do not decorate their homes feel sad at Christmas. Midnight mass say they are