Record holiday spending is expected in Minnesota this year

How much money do you plan to spend this holiday season? It will likely be more than last year and could be record-breaking in Minnesota, according to a new survey.

There are some things we can count on here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Like one of our professional sports teams completely falling apart and losing in the playoffs. Or Mother Nature will give us at least one steamy, unbearably hot and humid day during the State Fair.

Another thing we can always count on is spending money during the holidays. Whether you visit the Mall of America in Bloomington or shop online, Minnesotans love celebrating the holidays. So it really shouldn’t be a surprise that Minnesotans appear ready to spend more money than ever before as they prepare for the 2024 holiday season.

That’s the finding of a new holiday shopping survey from the National Retail Federation (NRF). And the amount we plan to spend could reach a new record. According to NRF, consumers here in Minnesota and across the country will spend an average of $902 per person this holiday season. That amount is about $25 more per person than last year and $16 more than the previous record set in 2019, the NRF said.

Understandably, most of the money here in the Bold North is spent on buying gifts. Of the average $902 that shoppers expect to spend, about $641 (71 percent) is earmarked for gifts for family, friends, colleagues and more, according to the NRF survey. The rest of that $902 goes toward seasonal items like food or candy, decorations and greeting cards.

So what will we buy if we spend all this money? According to the NFR survey, gift cards are still the most popular item on many Minnesotans’ lists, followed by clothing and accessories, books and other media, and personal care and beauty items.

The NFR also says many holiday shoppers in Minnesota have already started: 45 percent will browse and shop before November. It also found that online shopping is still the most popular in Minnesota at 57 percent, followed by shopping at department stores at 46 percent, shopping at grocery stores and supermarkets also at 46 percent, and discount stores at 45 percent.

If your shopping this season includes a trip to the Mall of America, which is always festively decorated for the holidays, make sure you do NOT bring any of the following items as they have been banned from MOA!

Listen to Curt St. John and Samm Adams
weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Quick Country 96.5