ShareThisShoppers have shown up in stores in large numbers in the last couple of weeks, and browsed retailers online when not searching for a mall parking spot, according to consumer research firms.
Americans seem most willing to part with money when they spot deeply discounted electronics.
Retail sales data from market research firm NPD Group shows that demand was strong for flat-panel TVs during the last week of November, with the number of units sold rising 15 percent from the same period in 2008.
Shoppers grabbed flat-panel TVs at far cheaper prices than in 2008. The average price fell 22 percent for TVs, dropping from $735 in 2008 to $535 in 2009.
"Consumers came out this year because there were deals to be had -- the same reason they have been shopping for electronics all year," said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at NPD Group.
Some other consumer electronics also sold well at prices slashed from 2008.
-- Camcorder sales were up 55 percent, with the average price one-third lower than in 2008.
-- Computer sales were up 63 percent. The average price of a notebook computer fell $160 to $500.
-- The number of GPS units sold rose 15 percent, with prices 14 percent below 2008.
Consumer electronics and video games in particular continued to be the most sought-after gifts by shoppers on the Monday and Tuesday after the long Thanksgiving weekend, according to data from Web shopping site Sortprice.com.
"Thanks to the popularity of so many new technologies, as well as the staggering selection of products available, electronics items are once again being targeted by holiday shoppers more than any other," said Doron Simovitch, cofounder of price comparison Sortprice.com.
While sales at electronics and appliance stores increased 2.8 percent from October, unit volume finished November 2.9 percent below November 2008, according to the National Retail Federation.
However, spending on electronics is likely to continue in the days leading up to Christmas.
Two-thirds of consumers polled online around Thanksgiving Day for American Express said they expected to spend the same or more on holiday gifts and groceries over the next 30 days than they had in the previous 30. Slightly more than one-third of them expect to buy electronics.
Reach Paul Grimaldi at pgrimald(at)projo.com. For more stories visit scrippsnews.com
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