Holiday shoppers expected to spend $1K

Florida’s retail trade association is forecasting a brighter holiday sales season this year, anticipating a 4.5 percent bounce in sales over 2017.

Consumers are expected to spend a record $1,007 on gifts this holiday season, an increase from 2017’s total of $967, which was the previous record.

The Florida Retail Federation issued the merrier forecast this week, attributing it to positive economic indicators: the lowest unemployment rate in more than a decade, strong consumer confidence, record-breaking tourism.

“The holiday shopping season is vital to the success of just about every Florida retailer, and thanks to an extremely strong state economy and more people with jobs, and therefore more money to spend, we expect it to be a big success for our more than 270,000 retail establishments,” said Scott Shalley, president and CEO of the Tallahassee-based trade association.

He said retailers will face stiff competition for consumers’ business, which means “great deals and opportunities.”

The retail group says shoppers are expected spend in three main categories during the holidays: Gifts: $638

Non-gift items: $215

Gifts for themselves: $155 Consumers are expected to spend the most on: gift cards; clothing and accessories; books, movies or music; electronics and accessories; home decor and furnishings.

In addition to Legos and Barbie dolls, which are considered perennial sellers, the most popular toys this year are: Pomsies, a cat-like virtual pet FurReal Pets, robotic pets Fortnite video game-inspired version of Monopoly

ASSOCIATED PRESS The Florida Retail Federation is expecting holiday sales to increase by 4.5 percent over 2017.