Backstory: Counting on Christmas
Here's a yuletide yardstick of the 2006 season.
From 25-year-old fruitcake to the new PlayStation 3, Americans celebrate the holidays in their own way. Here's a yuletide yardstick of the 2006 season.
87% – Americans who believe holidays should be more about family and caring for others, not giving and receiving gifts.
79% – Do not believe it's necessary to spend a lot of money in order to have a fulfilling and enjoyable holiday.
$457.4 billion – Expected holiday sales in 2006.
$435.6 billion – Holiday sales in 2005.
51.7 million – People who shopped online from work for holiday gifts in 2005.
60% –People who say they will spend about the same amount as they did last year.
23% – People who say they will spend less than last year.
16% – People who say they will spend more than last year.
$791 – Amount each consumer is expected to spend this year.
$451.34 – Will be spent on family.
$99.22 – On himself or herself.
$85.60 – On friends.
$22.40 – On co-workers.
$44.52 – On people like clergy, teachers, and baby sitters.
$30.57 – On greeting cards and postage.
55.2% – People who want books, CDs, DVDs, videos or video games as gifts.
53.3% – Want clothing or accessories.
52.8% – Want gift cards.
Top 2006 toys for boys – TMX Elmo, cars, PlayStation 3, video games, LEGOS, Nintendo DS, Hot Wheels, Xbox 360, remote-controlled cars, trucks.
Top 2006 toys for girls – Dolls, Bratz, TMX Elmo, Dora the Explorer, Disney Princess, iPod/MP3 players, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3.
47% – People who say they'd toss a holiday fruitcake in the trash without delay.
11% – People who say they would make time to regift a fruitcake.
1:1 – The ratio of the density of the average fruitcake to the density of mahogany.
