One Quarter of Americans Have Yet to Start Holiday Gift Shopping
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Sean Gallup/Getty Images(YONKERS, N.Y.) — The percentage of last minute shoppers is on the rise compared to last year, according to a new Consumer Reports survey.
As of Dec. 19, 25 percent of adults had not yet begun to shop — that’s up from 17 percent for the same time period in 2010.
The number one reason cited for not getting started was a lack of money, followed by the belief that they still have plenty of time. Approximately one-third of respondents are simply procrastinators. One in four of those who are not finished holiday shopping will be hitting the stores on Christmas Eve.
Although a majority of respondents said they always finish their holiday shopping on time, four in 10 do not, forcing them to explain the lack of a gift to persons on their list. Some of the common steps they’ve done or said include:
— Promised a future gift or gave an “IOU” – 41 percent.
— Did nothing – 31 percent.
— Gave a homemade gift certificate, such as a night of babysitting – 17 percent.
— Lied and said something like, “It’s in the mail” or “I forgot it at home” – 17 percent.
— Gave the person a re-gifted item – 12 percent.
— Avoided the person to save on their gift – 12 percent.
The Consumer Reports survey involved 1,011 U.S. adults.
Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio