Clothes
Apparel and shoes join gift cards and personal electronics as the most wanted gifts of the season. Nearly half of the respondents from the EBay/Opinion Research Corporation survey said they wanted clothing for Christmas, with jeans and shirts topping the list. Cashmere hats and gloves will also sell as shoppers look for a bit of luxury at lower price points. "Retailers have already seen colder weather this year and that helps apparel sales," says Darrell Rigby, Bain & Co.'s head of global retail. Still, buying clothes is always tricky, which is why the most requested present is always a gift card. Ironically, gift card sales will fall nearly 6% this holiday season predicts the National Retail Federation in their annual survey because price conscious shoppers are choosing sales over cards.