Consumers Preparing to Find Steals & Deals This Holiday Shopping Season

This holiday season, Americans plan to cash in on Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, with nearly 45% of consumers making purchases on Black Friday and 47% shopping on Cyber Monday, according to the American Express Spending and Saving Tracker.

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Between these two shopping holidays, consumers plan to spend $584 (up 17% from 2014), and this year, 20% more of affluent consumers–categorized as those earning $100,000 or more annually—will be leading the charge, as 56% plan to take advantage of this annual shopping holiday compared to just 46% last year.

“Consumers love a good deal, and many are planning to search for the latest and greatest on Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year,” said Jed Scala, Senior Vice President, Consumer Lending at American Express. “The purchases won’t stop there, however, as we expect to also see steady spending throughout the holiday season in a number of areas including travel and entertainment.”

Although a good deal of holiday shopping will take place between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, retailers can also expect a steady flow of shoppers throughout the holiday season, as 62% of consumers say they will only have completed half or less of their holiday shopping by this time. On average, consumers plan to purchase holiday gifts for eight people, spending the majority of their shopping dollars (total average of $839) on children and spouses/significant others.

SHOPPERS FLOCK ONLINE FOR HOLIDAY DEALS

Most Black Friday devotees (55%) plan to shop between the hours of 12 a.m. and 7 a.m., and although those brave enough to shop in-store (23%) may physically get their hands on the best deals first, nearly 67% of Black Friday shoppers prefer to combine online and in-store shopping.

Holiday shopping in general continues to be dominated by online purchases with two in five (41%) consumers planning to complete mostly all or some of their shopping online. It’s not just about shopping on the computer, however: Browsing on the go is significantly up with more than one-half of Americans (58%) using a smartphone for holiday shopping (vs. 49% in 2014), whether it is to browse, compare prices or make a purchase.

FROM MALLS TO MAIN STREET

The majority of Americans will make their purchases from super stores (67%) this holiday season, where they can find gifts for the whole family. Significantly behind are department stores (47%), another one-stop shop. People are also supporting their Main Streets in increasing numbers, with local small business shopping up 17% compared to 2014.

GIFT CARDS: THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

Gift cards (57%) continue to top shopping lists, followed by clothing and accessories (47%) and toys/games (44%). Contrary to popular belief, both men (54%) and women (59%) think gift cards are the ideal gift for loved ones, citing usefulness and flexibility for the recipient and convenience for the shopper. Additionally, some consumers (15%) say they actually repurpose unused gift cards they’ve received to buy gifts for their loved ones.

DONATIONS & DECORATIONS GO UP WITH CHEER

Holiday spending doesn’t end with gifts. In fact, Americans are choosing to spend money in more philanthropic ways this holiday season. Millennials, in particular, are significantly more interested in giving to charitable causes compared to the general population (74% vs. 65% overall).

Additionally, overall anticipated holiday costs go beyond gifts. Other holiday expenses apart from shopping include:

• Holiday décor – 33%
• Special dinners out – 31%
• Attending holiday parties – 30%
• Travel to visit family and friends – 27% ($394 vs. $345 in 2014)

About the American Express Spending & Saving Tracker

The American Express Spending & Saving Tracker research was completed online among a random sample of 1,503 adults, including the general U.S. population, as well as an affluent demographic defined by a minimum annual household income of $100,000. Interviewing was conducted by Ebiquity, formerly Echo Research, between September 23 -28, 2015. The results reported have an overall margin of error of +/- 2.5 at the 95 percent level of confidence.

About American Express

American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, foursquare.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express,twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

Key links to products and services: charge and credit cards, business credit cards, Plenti rewards program, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, corporate card and business travel.

About Ebiquity, Plc.

Ebiquity are independent marketing performance specialists. Ebiquity enables brands across the world to make better informed decisions to improve their brand and business performance across integrated communications channels. Learn more at ebiquity.com.

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