Still need to start Christmas shopping? You’re not alone

Twenty-four million people still had shopping to do as of the first week of December, according to the National Retail Federation.
2 min. read
Mayor MIchael Hancock shops Cherry Creek on Small Business Saturday. Nov. 26, 2016. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) small business saturday; denver; denverite; retail; kevinjbeaty; colorado;

Mayor Michael Hancock shops Cherry Creek on Small Business Saturday. Nov. 26, 2016. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Procrastinators, it's time to panic. The days to pick up a gift before Christmas are dwindling.

Twenty-four million people still had shopping to do as of the first week of December, according to the National Retail Federation. Last year, the trade group estimated that one in 12 people don't start getting gifts until the last two weeks of the year.

Shoppers that completed half or less of their holiday shopping as of Dec. 7 said it's because they're still deciding what to buy (45 percent) or waiting for requests from loved ones (27 percent), according to the federation.

Another 27 percent of respondents reported they had other financial priorities that delayed shopping. A quarter of people said they were too busy with other activities to get to the stores

Three percent of shoppers were organized enough to wrap up the holiday shopping before Thanksgiving, according to the federation.

The organization has good news for shoppers that are on the ball or scrambling. Most people (65 percent) keep all their gifts.

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