YONKERS, N.Y. (AP) - Many consumers are procrastinating on their holiday shopping, and becoming more debt conscious.
A Consumer Reports survey has found 40 percent of Christmas shoppers have not even begun to shop yet, and 13 percent don't even plan to finish until Christmas Eve.
Ed Farrell, director of CR's National Research Center, cautions that a third of shoppers already have found popular gifts like electronics, clothing and toys to be out of stock, "so if you wait, you may not find the item you're looking for."
Farrell says those who have been shopping are very bargain conscious -- and are looking for more practical gifts.
They're also paying in cash more and by credit card less -- about $100 less per shopper. And Farrell says most plan to pay off the amount in full when they get the bill.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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