The holidays are here, and along with seasonal festivities comes shopping—and lots of it. Each year, it seems we’re getting into the spirit earlier and earlier, hitting the stores before we’ve even sealed the envelopes on our holiday greetings. Just how early are we making our lists, and checking them twice?
According to a recent Harris Poll, 41 percent of Americans started their holiday shopping this year by the middle of October, and 11 percent had completed more than three-quarters of their shopping by the second week of November. Between mid-October and early December, the number of holiday shoppers out spending grew from 45 percent to 84 percent.
There are always last-minute shoppers, however, and this year is no exception. One-quarter of holiday shoppers (24 percent) surveyed by the Harris Poll had completed less than one-quarter of their shopping by the second week of November—and in fact, by the first week of December, 16 percent of shoppers had yet to complete any of it!
Most of the shopping is taking place online, according to the results of the poll. Over half of those who started their shopping used the internet to purchase their presents, reaching its peak in early December when 71 percent of shoppers turned to online. Big-box retailers and departments stores were also popular merchants.
The clock’s ticking—have you finished all of your holiday shopping?
Source: The Harris Poll®
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