Surveys Differ on the Popularity of Online Shopping

The surveys revealed the following about consumer spending:

From The Conference Board survey:
* U.S. households are expected to spend an average of $449 on gifts during the holiday season, down from last year’s estimated spending of $466;
* 36 percent will spend between $200 and $500;
* 33 percent will spend less than $200;
* 31 percent of all households will spend $500 or more;
* The top spenders reside in New England households, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, which intend to spend $545; and
* The lowest spenders will be in the Mountain region, including Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Nevada, which intend to spend $348.