Technology is changing how I prepare this year. A major portion of my gift purchases happened online, rather than in-person. What about you?
I did go to the malls; and what I found was lots of parking spaces and deals that I could easily better with an internet connection.
It will be interesting to see how consumers spent, and which retailers were naughty and nice.
Here are a few of the other things I noticed recently.
The Christmas Lights Economic Indicator?In past years, my neighborhood was a flashing Wonderland of Christmas lights. This year, the displays are much more down-to-earth. Are people feeling less jolly? My guess is that fewer people chose to pay someone to hang the lights for them.
The Blockbuster Indicator?When I went to see Avatar, on its opening day at the theater, a quarter of the seats were empty. Box Office Mojo reports that the opening numbers were respectable, though not phenomenal. The reviews have been great ... so perhaps fewer people chose to pay the $3 per ticket premium to see this movie in 3D because they are more in touch with their budgets and spending limits.
