Winthrop Poll

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Leading up to the holiday season, the Winthrop Poll asked South Carolinians about holiday spending, finances, and ease of discussing politics with different people.

The following are results from the survey of South Carolinians:

* 42 percent expect to spend less this holiday season than in previous years; those with annual household incomes of more than $100,000 are more likely to spend the same this year as in previous years.

* 42 percent report that their financial situation remains about the same as it was a year ago; South Carolinians are more likely to say they are better off than they were a year ago compared to national numbers.

The most likely population to report being worse off financially than they were a year ago is those with annual household incomes of less than $50,000.

Winthrop Poll Director Scott Huffmon noted, “South Carolinians are a bit more likely to say they are better off than they were a year ago compared to national numbers. This could be a result of economic growth in South Carolina compared to economic contraction nationally.”

Huffmon said that according to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, South Carolina’s GDP grew by 1.7 percent while the national GDP shrank by 0.5 percent in the first quarter of 2025.

Huffmon added, “It is hard to predict how much various stocking stuffers will cost with prices in flux due to tariffs and other pressures.”

* 58 percent find it very or somewhat easy to talk about politics with close family; political independents are the most likely to be uncomfortable with these types of conversations. Republicans are most comfortable discussing politics with family, colleagues, acquaintances, and people from different racial or ethnic backgrounds.

* 54 percent are very or somewhat concerned about themselves or someone they know being targeted for holding certain political beliefs.

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