• Consumers estimate they will spend $745.17 this year compared to $751.51 for Christmas in 2001.
  
• This year 51.8% believe they will spend the same as last Christmas while last year 39.3% expected to spend the same.
  
• For those who planned to spend more this Christmas only 3.6% gave either “received a bonus” or “got a raise” as a reason compared to 12.6% giving those two reasons last year.
  
• For those who planned to spend less, 39.8% cited “less income” while 28.7% felt that way last year.
  
• The hot items on-line this year will be men’s fragrances, women’s cosmetics and perfume & cologne getting two times more mentions this Christmas than last year.
  
• Last year 18.4% of consumers planned to buy on-line, while this year 20.2% plan to shop there for Christmas gifts.
  
• Of those consumers who bought on-line last year, they spent $197.71 on average compared to this year consumers plan to spend $200.81 on-line.
  
• More people have started their Christmas shopping this year with 47.5% yet to start compared to 55.3% who had yet to start last year.
  
• This year 12.8% expect to be done with most of their shopping by Thanksgiving compared to 5.7% getting done early last year.
  
• Retailers better be on sale this year because 71.9% believe 50% off is believable compared to 68.3% last year.
  
• This year consumers plan to buy for 9.3 people while last year they were buying for 9.4 people.
  
• More shoppers will avoid the crowds this year by shopping during the week -- 68.3% this year compared to 54.3% last year.
  
• Thanksgiving weekend will be more busy since 44.5% plan to shop Friday compared to 31.6% shopping Friday last year.
  
• The top toy will be computer games with a total response of 24.3% followed by board games at 24.0%, Nintendo/Play Station at 19.9% and rollerblades at 18.8%.
  
• After Christmas sales will be strong again this year since 51.3% will be getting either cash or gift certificates compared to 38.8% giving cash or gift certificates last year.
  
• Last year consumers planned to spend $32.78 for Christmas gifts while this year they expect to spend $33.97.
  
• This Christmas season sales will be up 1.2% through December 25th and December sales will be up 3.8% due to solid after Christmas sales.
  

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