When the Credit Crunches

The pen is proving mightier than the control pad as new research out today reveals credit-crunched Brits are favouring the humble crossword over modern games. Nearly nine out of ten UK adults (86 per cent) say they find traditional crossword puzzles more stimulating than modern “brain training” games.

To celebrate the return of the modest crossword, Chevrolet, the value-for-money car manufacturer, has created a giant mobile puzzle on a Captiva car which has driven across the country to give the nation’s crossword lovers a chance to complete against each other in the huge 3D challenge.

The research commissioned by Chevrolet of over 1,000 UK adults illustrates that the growing crossword trend seems to be fuelled by the change in economy, as three quarters of those polled (76 per cent) claim that the credit crunch has encouraged them to find better value ways to occupy themselves.

Despite the crossword being close to a hundred years old, 42 per cent of Brits still enjoy one weekly, as eight out of the ten polled (82 per cent) consider crosswords to be a great form of education, completing them to keep their minds sharp. 89 per cent claim that the puzzles help expand their vocabulary, with 84 per cent believing that crosswords improve their general knowledge, deemed by Brits as the most important life skill after strong communication skills.

Adult puzzlers in Britain spend the equivalent of a full working week doing crosswords every year, with those from the North East being the most die-hard in their pursuit for completion, spending 61 hours a year on their favourite game. North Westerners and those from East Anglia are almost as hardcore in their passion to puzzle, spending just an hour less a year solving them.

Les Turton from Chevrolet, comments:
“It comes as no surprise that people are turning to better value products and activities like crosswords, as we are all more aware of looking after the pennies. The accessibility and challenge of a crossword provides cost effective entertainment and brain stimulation.”