Retail therapy: 90% of voters can’t wait for holiday shopping rush, despite election ‘angst’

At least one American tradition has not been affected by the drama and trauma of the 2016 election.

“Political uncertainty and voter anxiety and frustration is not enough to temper gift buying, regardless of victor,” reports a new survey of U.S. voters which found the vast majority will not let the outcome of the presidential race affect their planned spending this coming holiday season.

The research was conducted by RetailNext Inc., a marketing and consumer analysis group based in California.

The poll of 2,000 voters found that 90 percent are itching to get at that holiday shopping. Even the status of their preferred candidate does not come into play: 70 percent say that if Donald Trump is elected it will not affect their spending; 68 percent say the same about a Hillary Clinton victory.

“Any residual angst from election 2016 will likely be well over by Thanksgiving. As this holiday season has two additional shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, an overlapping of the beginning of Hanukkah with Christmas Eve, and a bevy of generally positive economic indicators, the retail industry should close the year relatively strong,” predicts Shelley E. Kohan, the company’s vice president of retail consulting.