PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG\/WECP) – Holiday spending is on track to top one trillion dollars for the first time, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF), but that doesn\u2019t mean shoppers aren\u2019t feeling the squeeze.<\/p>\n
From crowded aisles to last-minute store runs, holiday stress is real. The NRF is reporting that shoppers plan to spend about $890 on gifts and seasonal items this year, which is slightly less than last year. <\/p>\n
Locally, that shows. Many shoppers are buying with intention and spending less per person and per gift.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Panama City\u2019s mom-and-pop shops say foot traffic is down, as small businesses compete with online giants for holiday dollars.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we\u2019ve seen an uptick since Black Friday in our local shopping compared to the rest of the year, but compared to the other years previous, it\u2019s still down pretty significantly. Once again, I think people are just feeling the squeeze of household budgets or restraints, the pressure of online shopping, it\u2019s really putting a strain on small mom and pop shops,\u201c said Brad Stephens, the owner of Sunjammers in Downtown St. Andrews.<\/p>\n
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the consumer price index stood at 2.7% at the end of November, but officials say the government shutdown may have impacted those numbers.<\/p>\n
For more data and holiday trends, click here<\/a>. <\/p>\n To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WJHG on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Email news@wjhg.com<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Keep up with all the biggest headlines on the WJHG News app<\/a>, and check out what\u2019s happening outside using the WJHG Weather app<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright 2025 WJHG. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n