If you can swing these things, it will likely be in your best interest to do so.

Its as good a time as any to get heavily involved in social network participation as well. If youre a retailer, youll want to be out there conversing and staying in peoples minds as they search for gift ideas for their friends and families. Nielsen says traditional items like apparel, toys and technology will be the most popular categories, but at restrained levels and primarily sold in value channels. They say products like cookware, kitchen items, bed and bath accessories and alcoholic beverages will also do well. Gift cards are one category where consumers plan to spend more this holiday season, followed by toys and apparel. Office supplies, pet stores, home improvement and drug retailers are not expected to so as well. A couple of additional findings were that 20 of households said that they had no plans to entertain at home or away from home during the holidays, and spending cutbacks are being driven by all income groups.