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NRF: Practical gifts top holiday lists

19.3 percent dreaming of jewelry

November 18, 2008

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Washington--Traditional winter apparel and personal, inexpensive items such as books, CDs and DVDs will be the first things consumers buy as they begin their holiday shopping, according to the latest survey from the National Retail Federation (NRF).

"Americans may be hesitant to purchase expensive gifts this holiday season, but personal and practical gifts will resonate most with shoppers this year," NRF President and Chief Executive Officer Tracy Mullin said in a media release. "Though many companies have already been featuring substantial sales and discounts, retailers may still have a few tricks up their sleeves to attract and entice holiday shoppers."

The NRF's 2008 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by Big Research, also found that other popular gifts this holiday season will include gift cards/gift certificates (chosen by 53.5 percent of those surveyed), toys (41.6 percent), new game systems, Blu-ray DVD players and other electronic items (30 percent), personal care or beauty items (20.8 percent) and jewelry (19.3 percent).

Though many consumers are struggling financially, most will not rely on credit for the bulk of this year's holiday purchases, the NRF said. The survey found that 41.5 percent of shoppers will primarily use their debit/check card to pay for holiday items this year, compared with 40.1 percent last year. The number of Americans who will pay with cash is also up slightly this year, from 22.1 percent in 2007 to 22.8 percent this year.

Consumers using credit cards as a primary payment method dipped slightly (31.5 percent this year vs. 32.3 percent last year), while personal checks are becoming nearly nonexistent (4.3 percent).

According to the NRF, 72 percent of consumers have completed less than 10 percent of their shopping, compared with 2.2 percent of shoppers who say they have completely finished.

The NRF 2008 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey was designed to gauge consumer behavior and shopping trends related to the winter holidays. The survey polled 8,758 consumers from Nov. 5-11. The consumer poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 1 percent.

The NRF is the largest retail trade association in the world, with members including department, discount, drug, grocery, independent and specialty stores, catalog merchants, chain restaurants and e-tailers, as well as the industry's key trading partners of retail goods and services.

For more information about the NRF, visit its Web site, NRF.com.
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Culture and Lifestyle | Holidays | Shopping

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