10 Nov, 2013
Holiday Shopping Survey Finds U.S. Consumers Dialing Down the Holidays
RIVERWOODS, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–November 07, 2013 – Americans are planning to celebrate this holiday season without all the fuss, according to the latest Discover Annual Holiday Shopping Survey. Gift cards are the most popular gift of the season, both to give and receive, and a majority plan to skip the hustle and bustle of holiday travel.
Entertaining at home is Americans’ favorite way to celebrate, with half planning to host Thanksgiving and/or Christmas Day in their homes, followed by Christmas Eve, 35 percent; New Year’s Eve, 25 percent; and New Year’s Day, 21 percent. When hosting their holiday parties, consumers are finding ways to be festive without breaking the bank – 41 percent expect to spend between $100 and $300, and 22 percent expect to spend between $300 and $500.
Restraint over Riches: Consumers Keeping Holiday Gatherings Simple
As Americans manage expenses this season while hosting holiday parties, many will invite their guests to contribute to the merriment. Sixty-two percent say they will invite guests to bring a dish, and 39 percent will invite them to bring a beverage.
Consumers will save in other ways, including cutting postage costs by sending out email invitations instead of paper invitations, at 24 percent, and offering small bites at parties instead of a full meal, at 21 percent.
When it comes to celebrating the holiday season with friends, 46 percent will host or attend a holiday-themed party and 21 percent will let someone else do the cooking and go to a restaurant.
Top Holiday Gifts of 2013
Gift cards, perhaps one of the simplest gift options, are also what consumers are asking for most. In fact, 23 percent of Americans are somewhat likely to toss or never use a gift they receive for the holidays if they don’t like it, making gift cards the safer choice.
| What gifts are you most likely to give this year? | What gifts are you most hoping to receive this year? | |||||
| Gift cards | 36% | 30% | Gift cards | |||
| Electronics/appliances | 17% | 23% | Electronics/appliances | |||
| Apparel | 13% | 9% | Books, music, movies, etc. | |||
| Books, music, movies, etc. | 10% | 9% | Experience (vacation, sporting event, concert) | |||
| Home goods (furniture, décor, tools, etc.) | 6% | 8% | Apparel | |||
| Jewelry, watch | 4% | 7% | Home goods (furniture, décor, tools, etc.) | |||
| Experience (vacation, sporting event, concert) | 3% | 5% | Jewelry, watch | |||
| Restaurant reservations | 2% | 2% | Spa experience | |||
| Spa experience | 1% | 1% | Restaurant reservations | |||
| Other | 7% | 7% | Other | |||
If the price is right, shoppers are also willing to buy things for themselves. Plentiful deep sales and retailer promotions will encourage 66 percent of shoppers to “self-gift,” or purchase a special something for themselves.
There’s No Place like Home for the Holidays
Although the holiday season is a peak time for travel, most Americans plan to stay in town this year. Sixty percent of them expect to stay local, while 26 percent plan to travel or take a vacation. Domestic destinations are the most popular for holiday travel, 81 percent; followed by the Caribbean, 11 percent; and Europe, 10 percent.
About the Discover Annual Holiday Shopping Survey
The Discover Annual Holiday Shopping Survey was an online poll of 1,005 American adults, 502 male and 503 female. The poll was conducted online between Sept. 24 and Oct. 22, 2013, by Penn Schoen and Berland.
For more information, visit www.discover.com/company.
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