EAGAN, Minn. – As you complete your holiday shopping list this season, you’re likely taking part in history.
The National Retail Federation expects holiday shopping to reach new heights this season, predicting the average shopper will spend $902 on gifts, food and decorations.
The amount is $25 higher than last year – and $16 higher than the previous record from 2019.
The shopping season is shortened thanks to the late Thanksgiving holiday. Shoppers responded by jumping ahead. The National Retail Federation says nearly 200 million Americans made some form of holiday shopping over the Thanksgiving weekend.
“I feel like we’re seeing shoppers coming earlier and earlier every year,” said Janet Fawcett, Marketing Director at Eagan’s Premium Outlets. “Stores were having their promotional week of events. I think people were obviously shopping the sales.”
In stores this weekend, a free visit with Santa and his reindeer – a way to entice in-person shoppers during a last-minute holiday push.
“Just the sheer amount of people shopping for the holidays, shoppers with bags, it’s just good to feel the energy and the Christmas music,” Fawcett said. “Between the holidays, 25 percent of our annual shoppers come this time of year looking for gifts and deals for themselves and their families.”
Adam Duxter
