Name: Shoppers, businesses brace for holiday season blitz
Uploaded: 2025-11-07T18:44:41.369Z
Duration: 2 min 25 s
Description: The holidays are nearly here and that means its also shopping season! Despite tariffs and higher prices, Americans are expected to spend big.

The holidays are nearly here and that means its also shopping season! Despite tariffs and higher prices, Americans are expected to spend big.

Chicago

The National Retail Federation (NRF) projects that U.S. holiday sales will exceed $1 trillion, marking a record and a 4% increase from the previous year. Many shoppers have begun their holiday purchases before November, aiming to avoid crowds and spread out expenses, with gift cards, clothing, and books among the most popular items.

Retailers have responded to tariff and government shutdown uncertainties by stocking up early and reducing seasonal hiring. Experts recommend that consumers plan ahead, look for deals online and through store apps, and consider using buy now, pay later services to maximize savings and secure desired items.

Shoppers, businesses brace for holiday season blitz

Hey, welcome back. The holidays are nearly here and that means it's also shopping season. And despite tariffs, despite higher prices, Americans are expected to spend big. Kennedy Hayes is live to break down the numbers for us. Kennedy, happy Friday. Happy Friday, Anthony and Natalie. That's right, the National Retail Federation estimates about 42% of people actually started buying presents before November hit this year and that definitely checked out, at least for some New Yorkers that I talked to. So we'd like to get a jump on things so that we have a lot of items to pick from when we go to the stores and stuff. So we started, we probably have about 20 presents so far. A little bit less minutes, so we'll see. We have not done much shopping yet for Christmas. We usually start around Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving weekend and this has been a tradition with us. The National Retail Federation estimates sales will be just over $1 trillion. That's a record and around a 4% increase from last year. According to the Federation's latest holiday survey, people are planning to spend an average of about $890 this year and gift cards are expected to be the most popular present, followed by clothing and books. Now, with the government shut down in tariff uncertainty, economists say fewer retailers are hiring extra seasonal help this year and stores stocked up extra early to avoid running short on hot items. NRF says that's part of the reason many shoppers are hitting stores ahead of Black Friday to avoid crowds, spread out their spending and cut down on stress. Economists say shelves won't be empty, but if there's a specific item you really want, it's smart to grab it sooner rather than later. Planning ahead and looking for deals remains key. Make sure that you take advantage of, you know, all the different deals that you may get. If you go to a retailer's website and you sign up for the first time where you download the wrap there, there's always deals to be found there. Uh, and finally, you know, as we all know, shop around, right? Look around, you know, make sure you do your research. And if you do choose to hit those stores before the Black Friday deals come around, NRF says you could also save by taking advantage of those by now pay later services. Anthony Natalie. Thank you, Kennedy. Appreciate the report there from New York.

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