Holiday Shopping

November 24, 2009

WITH RETAILERS BRACING FOR A SLOW HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON, A NEW SURVEY SUGGESTS CONSUMERS ARE CLAIMING TO BE MORE OPTIMISTIC THIS YEAR; EXACTLY SIX DOLLARS MORE OPTIMISTIC.

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH SHOWS THAT’S HOW MUCH MORE CONSUMERS SURVEYED IN FLORIDA EXPECT TO SPEND THIS YEAR, A WHOPPING SIX DOLLARS MORE ON GIFTS THAN THEY DID LAST YEAR, THE WORST HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON FOR RETAILERS IN 50 YEARS.

Hyunjoo Oh/UF retail researcher: “The holiday this year will be the same as last year even though consumers are getting out of the pessimistic economy but they still feel worried about the future of the economy and they were very conscientious about their spending and the budgets.”

EXPERTS SAY RETAILERS AREN’T STOCKING LARGE INVENTORIES LIKE THEY DID LAST YEAR AND SHOPPERS COULD FIND MORE SALES THAN IN THE PAST.

Hyunjoo Oh/UF retail researcher: “Retailers came up with a lot of gift ideas that fit in the budgets. There are a lot of sales going on to promote the consumers spending on the holiday gift.”

EXPERTS PREDICT A LARGE TURN OUT OF SHOPPERS FOR BLACK FRIDAY BUT DON’T EXPECT THE TREND TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAY SEASON.