Consumer poll: 25% of Americans haven’t started holiday shopping yet

Yonkers, N.Y. -- The Consumer Reports Holiday Poll released Wednesday found that a quarter of adults in the United States had yet to begin their holiday shopping as of Dec. 19, compared with 17% last year.



Of those who haven't started shopping yet, 54% cited lack of enough money as a reason, 41% still believe they have plenty of time, while 29% are in procrastination mode.



Heading into the final holiday shopping weekend, 60% of people are still scrambling to finish – when asked what gifts they're most likely to give with time running out, 45% cited gift cards, 21% said cash, 9% said food, and 7% said wine or liquor. One in four who aren't finished shopping will be hitting the stores on Christmas Eve.



In order to finish shopping in time, 44% of those surveyed said they will buy a gift even if it's more than they wanted to spend, and a quarter of adults will get something that may not be a good deal just to be done with shopping.