Reported by: Tracie Potts
NBC
The holiday shopping season starts Friday so what's it gonna take to get you to open your wallet?
Retailers beaten down by the recession are hungry for your money offering deals earlier this year. But is that enough?
Even with the recession easing, a lot of people are still out of jobs.
That'll affect how much they buy for the holidays.
But surveys show that with the recession easing, things aren't as tight as last year.
"I was in between jobs, still trying to recover from that. So I'll probably spend a little less this year," said shopper Brandon Moore.
Last year 56 percent of shoppers said they'll spend less this year?
Only 43 percent are concerned about credit card payments.
And even with double-digit unemployment fewer people said job loss will force them to scale back spending.
Still, consumers are cautious.
"It's still pretty soft this year so it's gonna take something to get the consumer going," said Bill Hampel, Chief Economist with Credit Union National Association.
The Consumer Federation predicts a slight jump in sales this year. But retailers expect less spending.
"We think consumers are still concerned about the economy, but they're also looking for most bang for the buck," said Mike Abray of Sony Electronics.
How do you get it? Check twitter or facebook.
Experts say even in-store shoppers will use social media to find the best price.
"They're using mobile phone to search a product while they may be in a store before they actually make that purchase," said retail consultant Stacy Janiak.
As for credit cards, most shoppers plan to use debit cards or cash only This year.
The Consumer Federation also found the gap between the rich and poor is widening, so families making under $50,000 are more likely to spend much less this year.
