Teens to do some shopping in store this holiday season, according to survey

Teens are not abandoning retail stores when it comes to holiday shopping.

Two-thirds of teens (68%) expect to do some of their holiday shopping at malls, discount stores, electronics stores and at small businesses, according to a survey by Junior Achievement. Nearly as many (65%) expect to do some of their holiday shopping online. 

The survey of 1,003 teens between the ages of 13 and 17 was conducted in late-October by the research firm Engine Insights.

More than half of teens (53%) feel that COVID has altered their plans for holiday shopping this year

While one-in-ten teens (11%) stated they are less likely to give gifts this year, nearly the same amount (10%) responded they are more likely to give gifts digitally, such as gift card codes, downloadable music, and games, this year. 

Teens’ top gift idea is clothing (55%), followed by gift cards (45%), accessories, such as hats and shoes (44%), video games (43%), small electronics (30%), toys (29%), jewelry (28%), sporting goods/apparel (17%), and music (14%).

“Despite the global pandemic and its economic impact, teens appear to be very enthusiastic about shopping this holiday season, even if they may have to do it differently from past years,” said Jack E. Kosakowski, president, and CEO of Junior Achievement USA. 

The largest percentage of teens (37%) expect to spend less than $100 on holiday gifts, while about a fifth anticipate spending between $100 and $249 (20%). Far fewer (12%) think they will spend more than $250 on gifts. About a quarter (23%) either don’t know what they will spend or don’t anticipate buying presents.