By the numbers

Predicted rise in U.S. sales during 2003's November-December shopping period: 5.7% (to $217.4 billion)

Rise in U.S. sales during 2002's November-December shopping period: 2.2% (the smallest in over 30 years)



Amount the average U.S. household is expected to spend on holiday gifts this year: $455 (a 5% decrease from 2002)

Consumers who plan on spending less this holiday season than they did for last year's: 34%



Amount e-sales are expected to rise this holiday season: 25% (to $17 billion)



American consumers who went shopping in 2002 on the weekend after Thanksgiving: 75.6%

Amount of 2002 Thanksgiving weekend sales spent on "books, CDs, DVDs, videos or video games": 41%

On "clothing or clothing accessories": 40.4%

On toys: 34.6%

On home furnishings: 23.7%).



College students with credit cards: 65%

Amount by which Visa spending rose last Friday and Saturday: 12% (to $6.5 billion)



Amount of sales for which college students were responsible in 2002: over $210 billion

College students who "cite low prices as important when shopping": 93%

College students with paid jobs: 67%



College students who shop at "general purpose retailers" like K-Mart and Wal-Mart: 80%

Amount spent at U.S. Wal-Mart stores on Friday: $1.52 billion (6.3% more than last year)



Current consumer confidence level: 91.7%

Consumer confidence level in October: 81.7%



The statistics cited above come from Harris Interactive; Robyn Greenspan's News & Trends article "College Students Surf, Spend"; Parija Bhatnagar's CNN/Money articles "Bargains not such bargains," "Soggy start for shoppers," and "Strong start to shopping season"; Melody Vargas's 2003 Holiday Retail Sales Predictions and Forecast; and Cnn.com's Consumer Confidence Index.