Over 78 percent of Americans will spend less money this 4th of July compared to last year as the country slowly reopens in the wake of COVID-19, according to WalletHub’s nationally representative Coronavirus and 4th of July Survey, released today.
WalletHub’s survey examined both Americans’ plans for Independence Day and their opinions on freedom, patriotism and safety in light of current events. Below are highlights of the survey, along with a Q&A.
- Americans feel restricted. Around 82% of Americans feel less free this year than last year.
- Summer plans put off or cancelled. Only 25% of Americans’ summer plans were kept, while 37% were postponed and 38% were cancelled.
- July 4th celebrations kept local. This July 4th, 74% of Americans will not travel.
- Patriotism declining. Almost 1 in 3 Americans feel less patriotic this year than last.
- Less Independence Day spending this year. Over 78% of Americans are spending less money this 4th of July compared to last year.
Q&A
Has COVID-19 affected Americans’ perceptions of freedom this year?
“Around 82 percent of Americans feel less free this year than last year, which makes sense in the wake of laws that closed millions of non-essential businesses and banned gatherings for months,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “While the COVID-19 restrictions have been important to keep Americans safe from the virus, they have also severely disrupted people’s way of life and made them feel isolated.”
Will people proceed with their summer plans despite the continued threat of coronavirus?
“Only 25 percent of Americans will keep their summer plans this year, compared to 37 percent who will postpone them and 38 percent who will cancel them altogether,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “Women show a lot more caution than men in regard to summer plans, as only 20 percent of women will keep their existing plans in place compared to 32 percent of men.”
Will Americans go far from home for July 4th celebrations this year?
“This July 4th, 74 percent of Americans will not travel to celebrate, which may be due to the fact that many Independence Day celebrations across the U.S. will be canceled or have size restrictions,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “Younger Americans are the most likely to travel for July 4th, as 36 percent of people aged 18 to 29 say they will travel compared to just 13 percent of those over age 59.”
How patriotic are Americans this 4th of July?
“Almost 30 percent of Americans say they feel less patriotic this year, compared to 27 percent who say they feel more patriotic,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “This decline in patriotism is likely connected both to the isolation people have felt during the COVID-19 pandemic and to the recent surge in protests against police brutality and racism, as many people feel that the country treats minorities unequally.”
