Shoppers expect to spend approximately US$748 this season compared to plans of spending $730 at this time last year, according to the Discover 2011 Annual Holiday Shopping Survey, which examines holiday spending intentions and trends for the upcoming holiday season.

Twenty-three percent of respondents indicated they intend to spend more in 2011, up from 13% that planned to spend more in 2010. Fifty percent of consumers intend to spend the same or more as they did last year; up from 43%.

One of the most important insights the survey revealed for consumer shopping intentions is Americans’ propensity to look to sites such as Groupon or Living Social for gift purchases. When asked if they would buy a gift through a group-buying site, more than half, 55%, of consumers gave a jolly nod to the idea, up from 22% who said the same last year. In 2010, just 6% of those surveyed said they had purchased a gift through a group-buying site, which more than tripled in 2011 to 20 percent.

"Consumers have had a few years to adapt to the change in economy and seem to be better prepared, and better positioned, for the holiday season," says Sarah Alter, vice president of portfolio marketing for Discover. "This economy has created a very savvy shopper, one who has a deeper understanding when it comes to taking advantage of sales, exclusive deals and making sure they’re getting rewarded for their purchases."

While men plan to spend about $825, down 3% from last year, women’s spending intentions improved by 18 % to $722 this year.

Sixty-six percent of respondents plan to spend within their budget, and more than one quarter of all consumers indicated they would spend between $500 and $1,000 on holiday shopping in 2011.

Fifty-five percent of shoppers plan to use cash, down 7% from 2010, and 26% plan to buy with credit, up three percentage points.
Just more than half of survey respondents (52%) say they have a set holiday budget this year, and substantial sales and compelling incentive offers are top-of-mind this holiday season.

Fifty-five percent of consumers say they will seek special shopping incentives and bargains such as free shipping, up 10 percentage points from 2010.

Forty-four percent of consumers say they will limit purchases to items that have deep sales, up nine percentage points from those who said the same last year.

More than half, 55%, of consumers say they will take advantage of Black Friday and/or Cyber Monday sales.

A growing number of shoppers plan to use their credit card rewards toward holiday shopping; in 2011, 5% of shoppers report planning to use rewards, more than doubling the 2 percent of shoppers who planned to do the same last year.

The majority of holiday shoppers plan to do their holiday shopping both in-store and online this holiday season as 81% report they'll take advantage of multi-channel offerings.

Fifty-seven percent of shoppers plan to purchase in-store gift items from discount retailers, while 20% say they will shop these stores online.

-- Dennis Sellers