Materialism Out, Leisure In

In her report for 2004, Marita Wesley-Clough, trends expert for Hallmark Inc. in Kansas City, says, "Materialism is losing its momentum." She says that as a counter trend to acquisition of expensive status symbols and modern toys, people "are longing for leisure." They are choosing to give up stuff just to live their lives. Marita attributes part of this trend to Americans becoming burned out by long work hours and frenetic schedules.