Monkey Business

2008 HOLIDAY SHOPPING STATISTICSAccording to the National Retail Federation…

• Most people (62.2 percent of those surveyed) plan to buy clothing or clothing accessories as gifts. Next were books, CDs and DVDs (60.8 percent), gift certificates (50.4 percent), toys (45.4 percent) and beauty items (25.2 percent).
• 75.1 percent of consumers are planning to shop at discounters this holiday season.
• There are 45,827 malls and shopping centers nationwide.
• Most consumers (30.7 percent) plan to primarily use check/debit cards for gift purchases this season. Next was cash (26.9 percent), credit cards (30.1 percent) and personal checks (12.3 percent) rounded out the list.
• The average consumer plans to spend $34.18 on decorations this holiday season.

The National Retail Federation surveyed over 6,500 consumers for their holiday statistics poll.HOLIDAY NAMESPlaces whose names are associated with the holiday season include North Pole, Ala. (population 2,183 in 2007); Santa Claus, Ind. (2,320); Santa Claus, Ga. (247); Noel, Mo. (1,587); and – if you know about reindeer – the village of Rudolph, Wis. (419) and Dasher, Ga. (830). There is Snowflake, Ariz. (5,343) and a dozen places named Holly, including Holly Springs, Miss., and Mount Holly, N.C.MORE THAN 305 MILLIONThe nation’s projected population as we ring in the New Year.Source: www.census.gov