A World in Limbo: What to Expect in 2022

According to a recent Ipsos U.S. Omnibus survey, 61% of Americans feel good about 2021, and this extends to their intended holiday spending which 76% say will be more or the same as last year.

Read our latest Thought Starter for more insights comparing 2021 results against data collected in 2019 and 2020. This valuable information allows marketers and manufacturers to identify new ways to optimize product packaging, messaging, or identify growth with potential product extensions.

The second year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. is coming to an end, with Americans’ lives both moving forward and on pause. As Americans face new challenges and uncertainty with the omicron variant, Ipsos is taking a look at the past year and how people feel about its progress—and its setbacks.

It turns out many Americans (61%) feel good about 2021 compared to their reflections last year on 2020 (a year which 34% said they felt good). Some of this is because Americans have adjusted to the shock of 2020 lockdowns, when consumers and businesses had to adjust to new rules and regulations on where they could go and when. Although Americans faced new challenges in 2021, things looked better to many Ipsos respondents. This is undoubtedly due to vaccine availability and adjustments to today’s new normal in dealing with COVID.

While attitudes are better this year, Americans are still not back to feeling as good about their personal lives or the country overall as they did before the pandemic. Almost one in four said 2021 was a bad year for them. Seven out of ten indicated it was a bad year for the country as a whole:

Year-End Comparisons

Tis the Season

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—or is it? The holidays will be brighter for many Americans: 63% say they are more likely to visit family and friends this season compared to 2020. Vaccination status will play a role for some choosing to attend gatherings, but not everyone:

Retailers can expect most consumers to spend more or the same (76%) this year than last year.

Due to current inflation and supply chain concerns, it’s likely consumers will face problems trying to complete their holiday lists. More than one-third of Americans expect higher prices to be the biggest obstacle that will affect their holiday shopping this season. A quarter of Americans do not believe the concerns brought on by current transportation delays and worker shortages will cause a problem; they must be giving cash this year!

Changes Ahead

Naturally, many Americans hope to make positive changes in the new year. As always, fitness and finances top the list.

By all accounts, the 2021 housing market was very strong. Zillow and Goldman Sachs are predicting continued growth in 2022, reflecting what Americans told Ipsos. Considerably more say they plan to purchase a home next year than in 2021, especially among those under age 55.

Why Ipsos eNation Omnibus

Want to learn more about how Americans feel? Try Ipsos eNation Omnibus. One of the most important aspects of marketing is knowing your audience. The Ipsos eNation Omnibus is the ideal marketing tool because it can quickly measure public opinion and consumer attitudes about any topic, any time. Our rapid response research is affordable, efficient, accurate, flexible and includes overnight and custom study options. These actionable Ipsos insights can be incorporated into your marketing strategy immediately.

Our 2021 Year In Review Study provides details on how Americans reflect on 2021 as it comes to an end and what to expect during this year’s holiday shopping. This valuable information allows you to optimize messaging on an infinite number of products and categories or identify growth with potential product extensions.

If you would like complimentary access to this 2021 Year In Review Study, a copy of a past Thought Starter omnibus study, or to learn more about eNation Omnibus, please contact us today.

Ipsos eNation Omnibus Thought Starters still available:

• Back-To-School Spending

• Summer Vacations

• Our Homes during COVID

• 2020 Year-In-Review

Ipsos U.S. eNation Omnibus completes five national surveys each week. Ipsos Omnibus offers a variety of services, including overnight and custom studies. Data for this study was generated by an Ipsos eNation online omnibus study of 1,005 American adults, age 18 and older, conducted November 8–9, 2021. If you would like complimentary access to this 2021 Year in Review Study, or to learn more about eNation omnibus, please contact Chris Deeney.