Christmas Is too Expensive for Ten Percent

Ninety percent of Icelandic adults say they can afford celebrating Christmas this year, according to a new Gallup poll. That is an increase of 2 percent from last year. By comparison, in 1993, 81 percent of Icelandic adults answered in the affirmative when Gallup first asked people whether they could afford the celebration, mbl.is reports.

Mainly young people, or 22 percent of those under the age of 30, report not being able to afford celebrating Christmas. By contrast, that ratio is 3 percent among those 50 and older.

Among those with a monthly income under ISK 400,000, 32 percent state they cannot afford the celebration. Surprisingly, 17 percent of those who earn ISK 550-799 thousand state they cannot afford celebrating Christmas, compared with 10 percent of those who earn ISK 400-549 thousand.

The poll was conducted online November 29-December 10, with a sample size of 1,547. The response rate was 50.2 percent.