HOUSTON - Consumers are expected to spend as much as $1.1 trillion this holiday season with much of it coming during Black Friday.
For example, 35% of people plan to spend more than $500 this year, according to WalletHub’s 2018 Holiday Shopping Survey. Just 33% said they spent that much in 2017.
Some of this retail enthusiasm can be chalked up to increased consumer confidence. Six in 10 people say they are better off financially than last year, while only 5 in 10 expressed that sentiment in 2017.
One trend perhaps working in the favor of responsible holiday spending is increased consumer skepticism toward Black Friday events.
"More than half the people think that Black Friday deals are anything special anymore." says Jill Gonzalez, a WalletHub analyst.