Consumerist
Prepare for disappointment this holiday season because a survey from Deloitte & Touche says the average consumer is planning to spend less on fewer presents. The average New England holiday shopping budget is down 19% to $517, and the average shopper is prepared to buy only 24 gifts - which to us, still seems like a lot.
Nationally, gift-giving budgets are down 2.5 percent, to $569, according to the survey of 14,135 consumers conducted between Sept. 24 and Oct. 4. Deloitte said New Englanders spent a lot more in 2006 compared with consumers nationally, making this year's pullback bigger.Holiday sales account for 25%-40% of the average retailer's annual revenue. A weak holiday sales season certainly won't help keep us out of recession. Are you planning to buy more or less this year? Tell us in the comments.Consumers everywhere are feeling the pinch with a slumping housing sector and a volatile stock market. And the soaring price of crude oil could give New Englanders their highest winter heating bills ever.
Making a holiday list, trimming it twice [Boston Globe]
(Photo: Chris&AmyCate)
