Discover releases findings

RIVERWOODS - Discover Financial Services Wednesday released its annual Holiday Shopping Survey, which assesses consumer spending trends and gift intentions for the 2009 holiday season. This year, shoppers plan to spend 15 percent less on holiday gifts compared to last year, the survey found, and 48 percent of the shoppers who plan to spend less said the economy was very influential on their decision to cut back on holiday spending this season. But of those spending less, nearly 80 percent say it will not put a damper on their holiday spirit. The survey also found that on average, shoppers plan to spend $723 on holiday gifts, compared to $831 in last year's survey and $896 in the 2007 survey. Women plan to spend more than men - $742 versus $702, respectively.