Scott Krugman Holiday Quotations

There are two factors over last year: Gift cards are playing more of a role in the holiday season and the fact that we have such a late Hanukkah this year.

While the price of gas didn't have an impact on the holiday season, mostly since prices at the pump came down, this is not to say higher heating costs won't affect post-holiday spending.

It's enough to turn a good holiday season into a great one.

It's not a niche holiday by any stretch. It's the first big event after the (winter) holiday season. January is a bit of a lull month for the industry. Not counting back-to-school, Valentine's Day is the second biggest season for spending.

The consumer has proved more resilient than many thought. We're still in the middle of a very busy week that can account for 10 to 15 percent of holiday sales, especially with all the unredeemed gift cards. It's not over yet.

A good holiday season means great things for the economy since consumer spending makes up two-thirds of the gross domestic product, It could create something of a slowdown in the beginning of next year if consumers are really splurging right now.