American families prefer to enjoy the comforts of home rather than going out as they feel less connected to other people. The portion of people who said “my personal values and point of view are shared by most Americans today” this year fell to 47 percent from 68 percent in 1987, according to a survey by publisher Trusted Media Brands and Kantar Consulting.

Stagnant wages, the divisive political environment and greater choices of on-demand entertainment and delivery options at home are among the reasons for “home-basing.”

“With Americans feeling less connected to their fellow citizens than any time in recent history, people are turning to smaller circles, and longing for a greater sense of belonging to their community, friends, and, above all, family,” the report said. “Today’s home is above all a sanctuary for modern families and a place to be productive, to connect and recharge.”

When asked to describe their homes, “comfortable” was the word chosen most often (81 percent), ahead of safe (68 percent) and loving (61 percent). The top home activities among family members are socializing (95 percent), watching movies or TV together (89 percent), playing board games (82 percent) and cooking together (82 percent), the survey found.


Source: Kantar Consulting

Americans are concerned that the health-related information they see on social media is incorrect or misleading, a survey found.

About two-thirds (67 percent) of U.S. adults who seek health-related facts at least once a year, aside from an annual checkup with a doctor, have seen health information on social media. More than eight in 10 (83 percent) of those social media users are concerned about the accuracy of the health information they see, according to the survey by global communications and marketing services firm Weber Shandwick and KRC Research.

The companies surveyed 1,700 Americans ages 18 and older.


Source: Weber Shandwick, KRC Research

Source: Weber Shandwick, KRC Research

The U.S. Postal Service estimates will deliver about 15 billion pieces of mail and 900 million packages between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, according to an announcement. The week of December 17-23 is predicted to be the busiest mailing, shipping and delivery week, when the postal service will process and deliver about 3 billion pieces of First-Class Mail, including greeting cards.

Investors bought the October correction and boosted exposure to U.S. and emerging-market stocks, REITs and healthcare. Meanwhile, while their allocation to the global technology industry dropped to the lowest level since February 2009, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s monthly fund manager survey. 

“Ominously, no signs of investor rotation from tech to ‘value,’ i.e. banks, small cap, industrials, EAFE” were seen, according to the report from an analyst team headed by Michael Hartnett, chief investment strategist at the bank.