April 14, 1999
Valley Residents Say on Y2K:
We Know and We Are Concerned
Phoenix: More than eight out of ten Valley residents (83%) have seen or heard something about Y2K, and 51% think there will be problems associated with it, according to a recent study conducted by WestGroup Research of Phoenix.
Y2K awareness was higher for respondents with higher incomes, the survey showed. While 100% of the respondents who earn more than $75,000 annually said they were aware of Y2K, 30% of those in the lowest income group (under $25,000) said they had not seen or heard anything about it.
Additionally, Valley residents appear to be concerned about the potential for problems associated with Y2K. (Y2K is the acronym being used for the change in year from 1999 to 2000 and the anticipated effect of computers not designed to accept the new year.) Only 12% believe there will be no problems. The majority (51%) think there will be either a big problem (14%) or a moderate problem (37%).
People with higher incomes are not only more aware, they are also more likely to say there will be only a "small" problem. Fifty-two percent (52%) of those who earn $75,000 a year or more think it will be only a small problem. Among respondents who earn less than $25,000, 57% think Y2K will be a big or moderate problem and only 19% think it will be a small problem.
Problem or not, 37% said they plan to do something to prepare for Y2K. The most common preparation planned by Valley residents is to store food (21%), while 17% plan to store water and 16% plan to withdraw cash from their accounts or investments. Some of the more unusual preparations planned are move out of the city (3%), get a gun (1%) and throw a big New Year's party (1%).*
The study was conducted among 400 metro-Phoenix adults selected at random
throughout March. Results are accurate within plus or minus 5% at 95%
confidence. WestGroup Research sponsored the study as a public service.
* Raw data is available by contacting WestGroup Research at 707-0050
