Holiday spending up this year

Here’s some holiday cheer: Consumer spending is up since last year. The increase is a small one, at about 2%. The National Retail Federation expects that number to rise to 3% by the end of the season. Why the increase?

Stores are open later, consumers are more confident and there are better deals. On average, Americans also have more disposable income than last year.

KPLU’s Rachel Solomon talked to shoppers in downtown Seattle to see how the economy has affected their spending habits this holiday season. 

A shopping rush continued right up to Christmas.  That included online spending, which has already surpassed last year by about 12 percent.