Though most Americans spent Black Friday and Thanksgiving weekend shopping, they are expected to spend less or the same amount they spent last year on holiday presents, according to CNBC’s new Holiday Central survey, they Falling gas and energy prices have done little to deter how much people will spend in the next month. And one of the hottest subjects of the year is whether merchants should say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays,” according to the survey. Of those surveyed 41 percent said they would like to hear “Merry Christmas.”
According to the survey, 46 percent of consumers said they plan to spend “about the same amount” as last year, 32 percent said they hope to spend less than they did last year and 20 percent said they will spend more. The average consumer plans to spend about $764 on gifts. Consumers prefer shopping at big box retailers like Wal-Mart and Best Buy to department stores – a 2-to-1 margin. Only 18 percent of consumers use online shopping.