THE REAL DEAL: More holiday shoppers spending on credit cards this season

Experts say credit card spending is up 26% thanks to online shopping and mall traffic.

News 12 Staff

Dec 9, 2022, 11:46 AM

Updated 747 days ago

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With holiday shopping in full swing, people are out spending but not with cash.
Experts say credit card spending is up 26% thanks to online shopping and mall traffic. Main Street in Clinton is full of eclectic shops, and owners say they are doing well.
Karen Aird, of Karen's Dollhouse Shop, says business has never been better.
"So, we're lucky that people come in with an old dollhouse and we refurbish them, and we bring them back to life for the next generation to play," says Aird.
According to CardSmart, sales of general merchandise across the country are up 48% this year.
Caleb Silver, from Investopedia, says a lot of the spending is going on credit.
"Credit card balances are up 6.7 % year over year on average," says Silver. "Delinquencies though, that's something we'll have to watch. That's up 13%."
Experts say to stay on budget over the holidays shoppers should limit the number of people they buy presents for, give handmade gifts, give essentials not luxuries, give presents not gifts, and skip fancy paper and bows.