Shoppers are expected to spend an average of a $1,000 this year on Xmas, Kwanza and Hanukkah and other similar celebrations during this time.
Stores and retailers will also see a healthy 4% jump in purchases over last year.
Online retailers are expecting to see a jump of 13%.
LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice says “The average that has been thrown around it $1,100. A little bit higher for men, a little bit lower for women based on the surveys that have been done so far."
Rice says a trend this year is seeing people start their shopping earlier.
“As many as 40% of the population starts to buy before the big sales and the traditional holiday season start," says Rice. "As many as half of those starts even into September or earlier."
Rice says another trend on the rise is fraud, adding there are many vulnerabilities to keep in mind.
“Things like fake websites that may be trying to steal your credit card information or fake charging stations or people trying to go a little overboard on the public wifi and try to get into your phones or devices,” said Rice.