Chances are, you are among the millions of Americans who received gift cards during the Christmas holiday season. CEB TowerGroup, a research firm, estimates that gift card sales will top $100 billion in 2013 and will reach $130 billion by … Continue reading
Consumers in the United States spent a record $42.3 billion online during the past holiday season according to data released by comScore. This was a 14 percent increase in online sales from 2011 when consumers spent $37.2 billion. Holiday shopping … Continue reading
Holiday shoppers are frantically running around, picking up last-minute gifts for their friends and family. Consumers spend a great deal of money trying to meet the needs of their loved ones. To see how much we spend, take a look … Continue reading
A new poll from Consumer Reports shows what holiday shoppers dread most about the holiday season. Crowds and long lines were at the top of the list. Other big concerns included weight gain, other drivers and going into debt. The … Continue reading
Buying gift cards this holiday season is even easier with the growing availability of virtual gift cards. Ordering is done online, and an email is sent to the recipient with the details needed to claim the gift. Gift cards continue … Continue reading
It is sometimes difficult to buy a thoughtful present for everyone on your Christmas list. Perhaps it is time to take a different approach to shopping and give those people a pre-paid credit card as a holiday gift. These cards become popular several … Continue reading
The holiday shopping rush is on. Paying with a credit card makes it is easy to be in the spirit of buying and giving without paying attention to how much money is being spent. But January credit card bills bring … Continue reading
Battle Plan Shifts on Dodd-Frank President Barack Obama's victory means the 2010 Dodd-Frank law will stand. But the finance industry could still cut some parts of the law because changes now are politically less risky for the administration and Democrats in … Continue reading
Now that November has arrived, shoppers and retailers are both turning their attention to the holiday season. Consumers will spend an average of $749.51 on their holiday shopping, up 1.2 percent from the $740.57 spent last year, according to the … Continue reading
The Discover Annual Holiday Shopping Survey shows holiday spending will increase by about $100 or 12 percent this year to an average of $838. Nearly one-quarter (23 percent) of respondents say they plan to spend more this season. Almost half (46 … Continue reading
Tablets and smartphones will be a very big part in this year's holiday shopping experience for both consumers and retailers. A recent Holiday Spending Survey by the National Retail Federation showed that consumers will use these devices for a variety … Continue reading
Your Christmas shopping may be a little more pleasant this year, thanks to greater use of mobile devices by the clerks in certain retail chains. Sears and Kmart will equip their employees in 360 stores with mobile point-of-sale devices to … Continue reading