2006 Key Findings:

• Consumers: increased optimism; lower gas prices are helping
• Spending on gifts about even with last year, but increased spending on other key areas
• Change in housing values:  not impacting consumers’ holiday plans
• Gift cards remain No. 1 gift choice; but are they reaching saturation?
• Traditional department stores: gaining in popularity
• Consumers taking a conservative approach to debt
• Hot Gift Items: T.M.X. Elmo, Ipods, video/computer games and consoles, personal and home electronics
• Retail initiatives that will get shoppers to spend more:  sales/discounts; quality staff; in-stock merchandise

2006 Related Content:
Press release: “eFriday” Is Born: 20 Percent of Consumers Shopped Online the Day After Thanksgiving
Press release: “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”: Deloitte Holiday Survey Says One in Four Consumers Don’t Think They’ll Get What They Want This Holiday Season
Press release: Deloitte Survey — American Consumers Are Bullish; Vast Majority Say Housing Values Won’t Impact Holiday Spending
White papers: Retail Growth Challenge Framework Series
Newsletter: Consumer Business Economic Update — November 2006