Shopping
With the holiday shopping season coming up soon, consumers say they’ll spend an average $967.13 this year, according to the annual survey conducted for the National Retail Federation. That’s up 3.4 percent from the $935.58 consumers said they’d spend when surveyed last year.
Holiday retail sales in November and December this year are expected to be up between 3.6 percent and 4 percent for a total between $678.8 billion and $682 billion.
Holiday spending comes in three main categories – gifts at $608.06; items such as food, decorations, flowers, and greeting cards at $218.08; and other non-gift items consumers buy for themselves and their families at $140.99.
For the first time in the survey’s history, online is the most popular shopping destination this year, cited by 59 percent of consumers. The survey also found that 57 percent will shop at a department store, 54 percent at a discount store, 46 percent at a grocery store/supermarket, and 35 percent at clothing or accessories store. The survey found 27 percent plan to visit an electronics store, 25 percent a small or local business, and 18 percent a crafts or fabrics store.
Most consumers, 59 percent, waited until at November to begin holiday shopping. However, 22 percent started in October and 19 percent in September or earlier. Of the early shoppers, 65 percent say they are trying to spread out their spending while 49 percent don’t want the stress of last-minute shopping and 48 percent want to avoid the crowds.
For the eleventh year in a row, gift cards are the most popular items on wish lists, requested by 61 percent of those surveyed, followed by clothing and accessories at 55 percent, the highest level the category has seen in 12 years. Two in five would like books, music, or movies, the lowest in survey history. Others asked for consumer electronics, 33 percent; home décor, 24 percent; jewelry, 23 percent; personal care or beauty items, 21 percent; sporting goods, 20 percent; and home improvement items, 18 percent.
Travel
Travel to a destination 50 miles or more away increases by 54 percent over Thanksgiving weekend and only by 23 percent during Christmas and New Year’s, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s holiday travel statistics.
During most of the year, visits to see friends and family are the primary reason for about 24 percent of long-distance trips in America. During Christmas, that number goes up to 43 percent, and at Thanksgiving, it goes up to 53 percent.
Thanksgiving facts
The U.S. Census Bureau offers the following information about Thanksgiving this year:
244 million
The forecasted number of turkeys raised in the United States in 2016. That is up 4.5 percent from 2015.
44.5 million
The forecasted number of turkeys raised in Minnesota in 2016. Minnesota is No. 1 in turkey production, followed by North Carolina, 33.5 million; Arkansas. 26 million; Indiana, 19.5 million; Missouri, 19.2 million; and Virginia, 17.2 million.
859 million pounds
The forecasted weight of cranberries produced in the U.S. in 2016. Wisconsin was estimated to lead all states in the production of cranberries, with 521 million pounds, followed by Massachusetts, 207 million pounds. New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington also have large productions, ranging from 19.4 to 58.8 million pounds.
3.1 billion pounds
The total weight of sweet potatoes produced by major sweet potato producing states in 2015.
4
The number of places in the U.S. named after the holiday’s traditional main course. Turkey Creek in Arizona had 405 residents in 2015, followed by Turkey city, Texas, 367; Turkey Creek village, Louisiana, 357; and Turkey town, North Carolina, 280. There are also 11 townships in the U.S. with Turkey in the name.
4
The number of places and townships in the U.S. named Cranberry. Cranberry township in Butler County, Pennsylvania, was the most populous of these places in 2016, with 30,739 residents. Cranberry township in Venango County, Pennsylvania, was next with 6,452 residents.
34
The number of counties, places, and townships in the U.S. named Plymouth, as in Plymouth Rock, the landing site of the first Pilgrims. The two counties named Plymouth are in Massachusetts, 513,565 residents, and Iowa, 25,200 residents.
Plymouth city, Minnesota, is the most populous place, with 77,216 residents in 2016.
There is one township and one census designated place in the U.S. named Pilgrim. Dade County township in Missouri had a population of 129. A census designated place in Michigan had a population of 50. There are also Mayflower city, Arkansas, whose population was 2,430, and Mayflower Village, California, whose population was 5,421.
6,500
The number of members of the Wampanoag American Indian tribal grouping as of 2010, about half of whom resided in Massachusetts. The Wampanoag attended the first Thanksgiving, playing a lead role in the historic event and were essential to the survival of the colonists during the newcomers’ first year.
