A Junior Achievement (JA) poll shows teens' spending on gifts this holiday season will be down for the third consecutive year. The results of the 2006 JA Worldwide Interprise Poll on Teens and Holiday Spending indicated that 57% plan to spend more than $75 on gifts this year, a 3% decrease from last year, and a 5% drop from 2004. The majority of teens (66 %) also indicated that that they plan on spending “less” or “about the same” as they did last year.

While a new poll by ABC News predicted women will outspend men this season-a reversal of the last four years' results-the JA poll showed 38.3% of boys said they would spend more than last year, compared to only 29.6% of girls.

“With many teens planning to shop conservatively this holiday season, we see it as a positive indication that they are learning the importance of spending within their means,” said Darrell A. Luzzo, senior vice president of education for JA Worldwide.

The poll was conducted online during October and November 2006 and saw 1,512 teen respondents. This is the sixth year the poll has been conducted.