Holiday 2010: The Year the Shoppers Came Back

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9KAIRNG1&show_article=1

(excerpt)

NEW YORK (AP) - Shoppers came back in force for the holidays, right to the end. After two dreary years, Christmas 2010 will go down as the holiday Americans rediscovered how much they like to shop.

People spent more than expected on family and friends and splurged on themselves, too, an ingredient missing for two years. Clothing such as fur vests and beaded sweaters replaced practical items like pots and pans. Even the family dog is getting a little something extra. "You saw joy back in the holiday season," said Sherif Mityas, partner in the retail practice at A.T. Kearney.

A strong Christmas Eve augmented a great season for retailers. The National Retail Federation predicts spending this holiday season will reach $451.5 billion, up 3.3 percent over last year.

That would be the biggest increase since 2006, and the largest total since a record $452.8 billion in 2007. The holiday season runs from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, so a strong week after Christmas could still make this the biggest of all time. Spending numbers through Dec. 24 won't be available until next week and final numbers, through Dec. 31, arrive next month.

The economy hasn't improved significantly from last year. Unemployment is 9.8 percent, credit remains tight and the housing market is moribund. But recent economic reports suggest employers are laying off fewer workers and businesses are spending more. Consumer confidence is rising.

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[Sum Dum Gai]

Well I did my part and went over budget for every single person I was shopping for. It's quite the accomplishment considering one of them is like four months old. She'll probably enjoy the gift bag more than the stuff inside.

[TD2K]

The malls and Costco have been packed for a while and I hate crowds.

[8 Bit WWBG]

...:::"Even the family dog is getting a little something extra.":::...

Yup, the dogs that have been "enjoying" my landscaping have been wearing gifts from their owners.

...:::"The malls and Costco have been packed for a while and I hate crowds.":::...

A stark contrast in our area to last year when the pre-christmas snow made malls look abandoned.

[trimatty471]

I can honestly say that I has been acting like Scrooge with my money this year. I've bought my coworkers' and family's gifts but I haven't spent a penny on myself.

It seems like prices has been jacked up this year.

[jkapp]

I didn't spend much more this year on each person, BUT since my brother got married to a woman with two kids earlier this year, the number of people I got presents for doubled! I usually only needed to buy gifts for my parents and my brother - now I have to add in two kids and a sister-in-law Plus, I was invited to a family gathering on Christmas Eve so ended up buying a couple of group gifts that I didn't buy in previous years.

But even with all that, I wasn't THAT much over in my spending this year...

[kgb18]

I actually spent less this year. Every year, including the past few years, we've spent way too much. I did a good job of sticking to the budget this year. Though I did buy a little for myself.

[boosmom]

Officially, I stayed within the budget.

But I didn't include the stuff that weren't "gifts" but was purchased while I was gift shopping (usually for the kids or DH). They will come out of the regular expenses.

[jkapp]

Dec 28, 2010 16:19:31 GMT -5 kgb18 said:

I actually spent less this year. Every year, including the past few years, we've spent way too much. I did a good job of sticking to the budget this year. Though I did buy a little for myself.

I have that problem sometimes too...this year I bought some things for myself but that was only because things I needed for the house (mop, waste basket, etc) were sold where I was shopping. I didn't buy anything I would consider a "gift" for myself this year...at least, not yet

[Poppet]

Americans rediscovered how much they like to shop.

It's called frugal fatigue, and people are suffering from it. People, in general, are tired of pinching pennies and so they said "dagnabbit, I want that gazingus pin and one for my dog too."

It doesn't mean the mad spending of yesteryear has permanently returned.

[so1970]

we spent a fortune on the grandkids three boys one girl. my wife loved shopping for the girl as she is the first girl born into our family in forever.

[breezy]

I spent less this year. I waited until the last minute to see if I could get any deals, but I noticed the retailers didn't have any great markdowns. I've still got my eye on an overcoat for my son at American Eagle - it's marked down 20%, big whoop!

[TrixAre4Kids]

Dec 29, 2010 10:00:46 GMT -5 Poppet said:

Americans rediscovered how much they like to shop.

It's called frugal fatigue, and people are suffering from it. People, in general, are tired of pinching pennies and so they said "dagnabbit, I want that gazingus pin and one for my dog too."

I found this to be my own experience. I purchased myself a few electronic toys and some NEW jeans. Felt good, too!

[emptypockets]

spent too much on our kids and grandkids.....of course.

[Poppet]

I found this to be my own experience. I purchased myself a few electronic toys and some NEW jeans. Felt good, too!


Me too. I swore no more electronic toys...

[suziq38]

I spent less than in previous years. I've spent the last 7 years trying to slim down the grocery budget. Since we're making less this year, it made sense to really slim it down. I kinda like not going broke for Christmas....


Daphne,
I like to check out the Grocery challenge Thread on the WIR.
Groceries are a necessity, but you do not have to overpay.

Watch the sales for meats and fish and make your meals around what is on sale.
Buy the lettuce bags and bread after they mark them down.

Ditto for meats. Safeway and Ralph's have a "celeranced meats" section. I pick up meats for 50% off.

[suziq38]

My Dh works for a small city. The mall's sales were up (if only slightly) for the month of December.
He was really happy, because it's (the mall) sales have been down for at least the last 3 years.