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Speak Out: What Will You Spend on Holiday Gifts?

Do you plan to spend more on holiday gifts this year? If you’re the average shopper, one survey says you probably will.

  • Do you plan on spending more on holiday gifts this year than last year?

    (Voting has been closed for this question)
    • Yes
        1 (25%)
    • About the same
        1 (25%)
    • No
        2 (50%)
    Total votes: 4
  • Your vote will only count once. This is not a scientific poll. View Results Vote!
 

If you’re the average shopper, chances are you may be spending a bit more on gifts this season than in years past.

Earlier this month, American Research Group reported that its phone survey earlier this month showed that Americans plan to spend an average of $854 on gifts this holiday season, up nearly a third of last year’s average of $646. That’s also the highest average since ARG’s 2007 survey, when survey respondents’ average was $859—that amount fell by about half in 2008.

Here are the average amounts of planned spending survey takers have reported since 2002.

Year

Average Spending

Percent Change

 

2012

$854

+ 32%

2011

$646

- 2%

2010

$658

+ 58%

2009

$417

- 3%

2008

$431

- 50%

2007

$859

- 5%

2006

$907

- 4%

2005

$942

- 6%

2004

$1,004

+ 3%

2003

$976

- 6%

2002

$1,037

-1%

Source: American Research Group, Inc.

So with this data in mind, we want to know how accurate the survey is—we want to know how much you’ll likely spend on gifts during the holidays.

Do you plan on spending more this holiday season than last year? Less? About the same?

Share what’s on your mind with us, and then return here to see what your neighbors in Paulding, Douglas and Cobb have said.

Related Topics: Christmas, Christmas 2012, Gifts, Holiday 2012, Holiday Guide, Holiday Guide 2012, and Shopping

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