Traditionally seen as the kickoff to spring, Easter couldn’t come at a better time this year for Americans eager to say goodbye to winter, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2010 Easter Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey. The survey, conducted by BIGresearch, found that holiday celebrants will spend slightly more this year with the average person expected to shell out $118.60, up from $116.59 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $13.03 billion.

While spending on most items will remain the same as last year, children can expect more jelly beans, flavored marshmallows and even gifts in their Easter baskets this year. The average person will spend $17.29 on candy, compared to $16.55 last year, and $18.16 on gifts, up from $17.30 last Easter. Other holiday purchases include clothing ($19.03), food ($37.45), flowers ($7.84), decorations ($6.34) and greeting cards ($6.30).

For more on this, visit this National Retail Federation’s website.

The Retail Advertising and Marketing Association, a division of NRF, released new research today at NRF’s Retail Innovation & Marketing Conference on the habits of social media users. Comparing social media users to the average U.S. adult, the survey looks at the differences in demographics for each group, including male and female usage as well as age differences in social media users compared to other adults.
The survey, “Social Media: An Inside Look at the People Who Use It,” compares U.S. social media users to the average American adult. Survey highlights include:

·         Seven out of 10 social media users between the ages of 18-34 regularly use Facebook more than other sites such as MySpace, Twitter and Classmates
·         71.8 percent of social media users say that after an online search, they communicate with others about a product or service with face-to-face communication
·         More people who use social media prefer to give advice about a product or service rather than receive it
·         Social media users are more likely to use other new media compared to adults 18+
·         70.6 percent of female social media users regularly use Facebook, compared to 61.0 percent of males
·         More men than women prefer to communicate with others via a cell phone conversation after searching for a product or service online

Where do you fit in with this survey? Is your social media use in line with the majority? How has social media changed your personal, professional, and consumer life? Leave us some comments and let us know!

After two years of paying down debt and skipping family vacations, many Americans plan to cautiously start spending their tax refunds once again, according to the National Retail Federation. The NRF 2010 Tax Returns Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, found that 43.9 percent of Americans expecting a refund will pay down debt, fewer than the 48.0 percent in 2009. However, only 65.5 percent of tax payers are expecting a refund, down from 68.4 percent last year.
According to the survey, 12.5 percent of people expecting a refund plan to treat themselves or their families to a major purchase such as a new television, furniture, or car, up from 11.0 percent last year. Others will stash their refund away in savings (40.3%), put it towards everyday expenses (28.8%), or go on vacation (10.0%).
“A little bit of ‘free money’ will go a long way for Americans this year,” says Tracy Mullin, president and CEO, NRF. “Retailers planning special promotions over the next few months may find that shoppers are a bit more receptive to opening up their wallets than they have been for the past year.”
According to the survey, 60.6 percent of Americans filed their taxes by the end of February, meaning that many tax returns have already been received or are on the way. An additional 24.4 percent will file in March and 15.0 percent will wait until the last minute and file in April.

What are you spending your tax refund on? Have you filed yet? Leave us some comments and let us know.

Post holiday sales and gift cards helped consumers open up their wallets to take advantage of special deals on popular apparel, electronics, and sporting goods items. According to the National Retail Federation, January retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) increased 0.5 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month and decreased 0.2 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
January retail sales released today by the U.S. Commerce Department show total retail sales (which include non-general merchandise categories such as autos, gas stations, and restaurants) increased 0.5 percent seasonally adjusted over December and 3.2 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Retailers offered special deals aimed at enticing shoppers to hit the stores to use gift cards they received over the holiday season and stock up on clearance items.
Sales at electronics and appliance stores increased 1.2 percent seasonally adjusted and decreased 7.6 percent unadjusted year-over-year. Clothing and clothing accessory store sales increased 0.3 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month and decreased 1.7 percent unadjusted from January 2009. Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores also saw solid increases, with sales jumping 1.0 percent seasonally adjusted from December and 5.5 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Sales at health and personal care stores increased 0.1 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month and 2.3 percent unadjusted year-over-year. The housing market is still showing signs of uncertainty as sales at furniture and home furnishing stores fell 1.4 percent seasonally adjusted over the previous month and 6.4 percent unadjusted year-over-year.