The average amount of weekly free time Americans have for leisure activities fell 20% in 2008 - from 20 hours in 2007 to 16 hours last year - and now amounts to 10 hours less than the amount of leisure time (26 hours) in 1973 when tracking began, according to results from The Harris Poll.

Additional findings from the survey:

• The biggest changes for 2008 in how people are using their leisure time are in TV watching (up 6 points), exercise (up 3 points) and spending time with family and kids (up 3 points).
• Since 1995 the largest changes in how people are spending their leisure time are exercising (up 6 points), computer activities (up 5 points), spending time with family and kids (up 5 points) and swimming (down 5 points).
• Three in 10 (30%) Americans say their favorite activity is reading (up from 29% in 2007) while one-quarter (24%) say it is TV watching, and 17% say it is spending time with family and kids (up from 14% in 2007). Rounding out the top 5 leisure time activities are exercise (8%) and computer activities and fishing (each at 7%).
• The median amount of time spent working, including housekeeping and studying, is now at 46 hours per week, up slightly from 45 hours in 2007. In 1973, when this question was first asked, the median was 41 hours a week.
• By generation, Generation Xers (those age 32-43) are working the most hours (55 each week), followed by 50 hours each week for Echo Boomers (age 18-31) and Baby Boomers (44-62). As many Matures are retired, they are only working 15 hours each week.

About the Harris Poll: The Harris Poll® was conducted by Harris Interactive and surveyed 1,010 adults age 18+ in the U.S. between October 16-19, 2008.

Source: www.marketingcharts.com

What are your thoughts? Readers want to hear it now.