With Christmas just around the corner, consumers across the U.S. are wrapping up their seasonal shopping, contributing to what is projected to be the first holiday season with total spending surpassing $1 trillion, according to the National Retail Federation. Despite ongoing inflation and rising prices due to tariffs, Americans are not cutting back on gift purchases. The average individual is expected to spend nearly $900 on presents this year. n nHaley Brandenburg, a shopper from Jonesboro, Arkansas, shared that she has been shopping daily for the past two weeks. When asked if her spending has increased compared to 2023, she responded without hesitation: “Way more. If anyone says they are spending less, they are lying,” she said with a laugh. n nOlivia McEntire, another local shopper, echoed the sentiment, pointing to broader economic pressures. “Everything has gone up in prices. I say prices are higher and families are growing,” Brandenburg added. While big-box stores like Target and Kohl’s remain popular, both women emphasized supporting small businesses where they find distinctive items. n nLocal entrepreneurs have noticed the trend. Holly Koen, owner of Delta Darlings, initially feared customers might tighten their budgets, but instead saw a surge in both online and in-store traffic. “This year, we’re seeing people spend a lot more. We’ve been pretty busy,” she said. n nMatthew Lamb, a regional manager at Gearhead Outfitters, attributed strong sales to shoppers seeking quality and value. “A lot of people want value for their dollars. I don’t think they’re afraid to spend more as long as they’re getting quality goods,” Lamb explained. To stand out against national chains, smaller retailers are focusing on exclusive products. Koen noted her store shifted toward offering unique merchandise not found elsewhere, a strategy she believes has contributed to their success. n nOnline platforms continue to dominate, with Brandenburg joking about receiving Amazon deliveries almost daily. “Everyone knows Amazon is a big one. I think I had a package every day,” she said, teasing her husband. n nEven with the potential for high credit card balances, shoppers say the joy of giving makes it worthwhile. “Seeing everyone’s reaction will be sweet,” Brandenburg remarked. n nLooking ahead, the National Retail Federation reports that 70% of consumers plan to return to stores after Christmas to take advantage of post-holiday deals. n
— News Original —nHoliday shoppers spend record amounts despite economic uncertaintynJONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) – With Christmas just days away, shoppers continue to make their final purchases as holiday sales are expected to exceed $1 trillion for the first time this year, according to the National Retail Federation. n nDespite inflation and tariffs driving up consumer prices, shoppers are not holding their spending back. The National Retail Federation said the average person will likely spend close to $900 on Christmas gifts. n n“I think for the last week and a half or two weeks, I have gone Christmas shopping every day,” said shopper Haley Brandenburg. n nWhen asked about spending compared to last year, Brandenburg was direct about the increase. n n“Way more. If anyone says they are spending less, they are lying,” she chuckled. n nFellow shopper Olivia McEntire agreed, citing rising costs across the board. n n“Everything has gone up in prices. I say prices are higher and families are growing,” Brandenburg said. n nWhile shoppers frequent major retailers, they are also supporting local businesses. McEntire and Brandenburg said they still shop at Target and Kohl’s but find unique items at local stores. n n“And I feel like, especially, in this economy, we’re trying to shop local a little bit just so to help everyone out as much as we can, especially in our town,” McEntire said. n nJonesboro business owners reported strong sales despite initial concerns about consumer spending. Holly Koen, owner of Delta Darlings, said she was worried customers would be more conservative with their money. n n“This year, we’re seeing people spend a lot more, we see a lot more people online and in store coming in. We’ve been pretty busy this year,” Koen said. n nMatthew Lamb, regional manager at Gearhead Outfitters, said business is strong because customers want value for their money. n n“The thing about our store is a lot of people, they want value for their dollars. I don’t think they’re afraid to spend more as long as they’re getting quality goods,” Lamb said. n nTo compete with larger retailers, local businesses focus on exclusive merchandise. Koen said Delta Darlings shifted its strategy to offer items unavailable elsewhere. n n“We kinda moved our focus over into doing stuff you can’t get anywhere else. So, that’s kinda what we’ve done, and I feel like that’s helped,” she said. n nOnline shopping remains popular, with Brandenburg joking about frequent deliveries. n n“Everyone knows Amazon is a big one. I think I had a package every day. Nathan Brandenburg, don’t watch this,” she said to her husband. n nDespite record spending and potential credit card bills, shoppers say the expense is worthwhile. McEntire described herself as a gift giver who thrives during the holiday season. n n“Seeing everyone’s reaction will be sweet,” Brandenburg said. n nThe National Retail Federation said 70% of shoppers plan to visit stores after Christmas to take advantage of holiday sales and promotions. n nTo report a typo or correction, please click here.
