• Average spend in Atlanta is expected to be $1,449; on par with the average spend in the South region (which is up +16% YoY to $1,474) 

• The spending level is despite a third of surveyed Atlantans stating that they are in a worse financial situation this year compared to 2021 and that they expect a weaker economy next year

• In fact, 76% of shoppers plan to spend more or the same than they did last year, and 70% expect higher prices this year

• However, shoppers are buying fewer gifts compared to last year’s purchases; this year, Atlanta shoppers are expected to buy 9 gifts (vs. 16 gifts in 2021, according to the national average)

• Supply chain issues have sparked fear of stockouts in Atlanta

• 78% of surveyed Atlanta shoppers are concerned about stockouts, with over half (54%) fearing electronics will be out of stock.

• Atlanta shoppers continue to shop early, with many making purchases before Thanksgiving

• 46% of Atlanta shoppers plan to shop earlier this year, with 24% of those expecting to spend their budget by the end of October and 34% by the end of November

• 52% of Atlanta shoppers plan to shop on key event days, with Black Friday (31%) and Cyber Monday (28%) as the most popular

• Atlanta shoppers will shop for holiday items for nearly 6.2 weeks this season

• Atlanta shoppers aren’t giving up the convenience of online shopping

• 35% of spend is expected to occur in-person, and 63% is expected to occur online

• 64% of Atlanta shoppers plan to use smartphones for holiday shopping this year, higher than the national average of 56%

• Online retailers and mass merchants are the preferred holiday destinations for shoppers

The 2022 holiday season will be defined by shifting priorities as consumers find ways to navigate inflation and keep the holidays festive.

Read on to explore the retail survey and holiday travel trends.