ISLANDIA, N.Y. – For the first time ever more Americans resolved to start off the New Year by getting out of debt than by losing weight, according to a consumer survey by Cambridge Consumer Research. "More than one quarter (28%) of all Americans say getting out of debt is their top New Year's resolution, closely followed (27%) by the perennial favorite of losing weight and exercising more," according to the firm's Consumer Credit Index. "These results provide ample testimony to the increasingly heavy burden that debt is perceived to be by American consumers who continued to take on billions of dollars in additional credit in 2003. The large increase in a desire for more secure employment also shows that, despite many signs of economic growth, many Americans still do not feel secure in their jobs," said Jordan Goodman, spokesperson and financial analyst for the Cambridge Consumer Credit Index. In January 2003, losing weight and getting out of debt were tied at 29%. In January 2002, losing weight was the top resolution of 30% of Americans versus 28% whose first priority was reducing debt. This year, 15% want to get a more secure or better job, up by 4 percentage points from 2003.