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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Consumers Plan to Spend at Least as Much in 2012

New study finds two-thirds of respondents expect to spend same amount as 2011.

The percentage of consumers who plan to sustain or increase their holiday spending in 2012 when compared to 2011 is growing, according to a recent survey by the NPD Group. The survey saw increases in respondents who plan to spend “About The Same” or “More” and a decrease in those who plan to spend “Less”: Survey Response 2012 2011 “Plan to Spend More” 10% 9% “Plan to Spend about the Same” 67% 64% “Plan to Spend Less” 23% 27% An article in the Baltimore Sun quoted NPD’s chief industry analyst Marshal Cohen as seeing “a light at the end of the tunnel with more consumers telling us they plan to 'spend about the same' and less planning to 'spend less.'" While the survey results paint a somewhat rosy picture for retailers such as Target, Sears…

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Top Kid Toy Picks for 2012 Holiday Season: Gift Guide

A look at the hot toys for tots this holiday season.

Every holiday season, the mailbox fills with the latest toy catalogs. Children peruse the pages as they scribble their lists, daydreaming about what they will find under the tree come Christmas morning. Parents pull out their pocketbooks, spending hard-earned cash as they anticipate the joy on those little faces. What will be the runaway favorites this year is always a guess, but here are some of the latest trends, mixed with tried-and-true perennial favorites.  jChews Smartphone teether by Jellystone No tears for parents or babies. Babies love nothing more than to gum Mom and Dad’s cell phone, but now they’ll be too intrigued with their own smartphone to chew on. The Jellystone smartphone teether comes in seven funky colors and is BPA …

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