For about one million Americans, Christmas is over—Christmas shopping, that is.
According to a new report by CreditCards.com, a new survey showed that 1 percent of Americans—which by extrapolation would number 1 million—have already finished their Christmas shopping more than two months before Christmas Day. Moreover, 14 percent, or 34 million others, have already started their holiday shopping.
This early arrival of the holiday shopping season is annoying many Americans, according to the survey, which was conducted Sept. 15-18. The scientific poll of 1,000 American adults showed that 73 percent agree with the statement that "it is annoying that the holiday shopping season has gotten earlier." Forty-eight percent strongly agree while just 21 percent disagreed.
"It really is pretty amazing that so many people have finished their holiday shopping so quickly," said Matt Schulz, senior industry analyst for CreditCards.com, as quoted by CBS News. "Some people wear that as a badge of honour."
Retailers say inflatable Santas, Christmas trees and various assortments of holiday decors and gift items are filling up stores earlier than usual to meet the demands of their customers.
Many Americans are not pleased by this trend. Jon Murray, a wedding videographer from Raleigh, North Carolina, says he has been noticing the past few years that holiday items are appearing in stores earlier and earlier, long before Halloween.
"I like having that month-and-a-half of time to get stuff together," Murray tweeted. "Once you go longer than that, it's not special. It starts losing the specialness of it, because it becomes a two- or three-month-long process."
More than half of Americans (52 percent) say they prefer that holiday shopping begins around Thanksgiving.
Twelve percent of those who answered the poll were even more hard core, saying that stores delay displaying their holiday goods until two weeks before Christmas.
Retailers would be highly unlikely to agree to that. According to the survey, most of these retailers wait until October to start their holiday sales. Some start earlier. For instance, Walmart traditionally displays its holiday merchandise in September.
One store, craft chain Hobby Lobby, starts its Christmas sale as early as June 1. Spokesman Bob Miller says this is because many of the chain's customers are craft designers who need early access to materials to make products for the holiday season.
Another reason why retailers want to start holiday sales early is the hassles and costs of paying workers and maintaining inventory when the season is compressed into just a few weeks. They say it's easier if purchases are spread out over a longer period.
Although online shopping appears to be gaining popularity, the poll showed that the preferred method of shopping remains in stores, with 58 percent of consumers preferring to shop manually than digitally.
