Americans are suspending major purchases of houses and cars until after the presidential election, choosing instead to lard up on guns instead, according to a new survey provided to Secrets.

"The top item Americans say they are likely to buy because of the election is a gun," according to a survey for the supply chain firm Elementum. What's more 97 percent of Americans are holding off major purchases "due to the presidential election."

On top of the list of items all age groups are considering is firearms, said the survey. Some 16 percent "plans to buy a firearm as a result of the upcoming election. Among Americans living in the South, the figure is nearly 1 in 5 (19 percent) and among Gen Xers (35-44 year olds) the number is nearly 1 in 4 (23 percent) especially among women (24 percent)," said Elementum.

Their survey was done by Harris Polls.

Secrets recently reported that sales in some gun stores have been doubling every month due to fears a victory by Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton will result in new gun control, including pistol and rifle bans.

Beretta starts pre-election sale.

Beretta on Tuesday unveiled a pre-election sale, offering 20 percent on magazines. Clinton has sided with those pushing for limits on cartridge magazines. And the sports chain Gander Mountian is running a pre-Election Day sale on semi-automatic weapons including AR-15 rifles.

Other findings:

— 15 percent of Gen X men and 16 percent of Millennial men will secure a passport because of the election.

— 13 percent of Gen X men and 10 percent of Millennial men will stock up on precious metals.

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com