PR Newswire Broadcast Minute for Friday, November 18, 2005

PR Newswire Broadcast Minute for Friday, November 18, 2005

To hear a Podcast of the PR Newswire Broadcast Minute and other MultiVu radio content, cut and paste this URL into your podcast application (e.g. iTunes, iPodder): http://feeds.feedburner.com/prnewswire_bcm

Will Santa's Bag Be a Little Lighter This Year?

While retailers were pleasantly surprised after an increase in retail sales in October, their worries about bleak holiday forecasts may not be soothed by a recent Maritz Poll. According to the survey, which has been conducted every year since 1988, nearly one out of four of holiday shoppers say that they will be spending less on holiday gifts this year. On average, the 2007 respondents plan to spend 791 dollars on gifts, which is statistically about the same as last year's 823 dollars, and certainly not the increase retailers are hoping for.

Full story at: http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=3086087

President Bush's Job Rating Falls Again, to 34 Percent Positive

The latest Harris Poll finds that President Bush's positive job rating has continued to fall, touching another new low for his presidency at 34 percent. This compares with his positive ratings of fully 88 percent after 9/11, 65 percent in November 2002, 50 percent at the end of 2003, 50 percent in November 2004, 45 percent in June of this year, and 40 percent in August. President Bush's positive ratings, now, compare unfavorably with those of three of the last four two-term presidents at a comparable time in their fifth year in office. In November of their fifth year, their positive ratings, Presidents Johnson, Reagan and Clinton all enjoyed the support of substantial majorities. President Nixon however was significantly less popular than President Bush is now.

Full story at: http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=3086794

AAA Reports Thanksgiving Travel to Increase About One Percent

Reduced consumer confidence and higher travel prices will slow the growth in American's travel plans but will not keep families home this Thanksgiving. Triple 'A' projects that 37 point 29 million Americans will take a trip of 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving holiday weekend. This is a point eight percent increase above the 37 million who traveled last year. Approximately 30 point 84 million travelers (83 percent of all holiday travelers) expect to go by motor vehicle. This is a point seven percent increase from the 30 point 61 million who drove a year ago. Another 4 point 64 million plan to go by airplane, up 1 point 3 percent from last Thanksgiving when 4 point 59 million flew. A projected 1 point 81 million vacationers will go by train, bus or other mode of transportation, up slightly from 1 point 80 million a year ago.

Full story at: http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=3086885

MEDIA UPDATE: Harry Potter Poised for a Box Office Victory, Scoring 93% of Advance Ticket Sales on Fandango

If advance ticket sales are any indication, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire will conjure box office magic this weekend. Fandango reports that the fourth Potter film already ranks as:

* the fastest-selling Potter movie in company history; accounting for 93
percent of Fandango's weekly ticket sales, as of Wednesday, November 16,
2:00 PM Pacific Time;
* the top-selling film since the summer release of Star Wars: Episode
III - Revenge of the Sith;
* a likely box office behemoth responsible for hundreds of sold-out
weekend shows.

Full story at: http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/main.jsp?resourceid=3086885

The PR Newswire Broadcast Minute is available by email at no charge to members of the media who sign up for PR Newswire for Journalists, http://www.prnewswire.com/media . For more information, contact Rob Fisher at 408-365-8793 or email rob.fisher@prnewswire.com

PRNewswire -- Nov. 18

Source: PR Newswire

-------
Profile: intent