Peak season extended? Nearly half of US buyers shop after Christmas!

A recent survey shows that most American consumers have not finished their holiday shopping, and nearly half of them plan to shop after Christmas.

A survey of more than 1,000 U.S. consumers by online payment service provider Klarna last week showed that about nine in ten ( 89%) respondents have not yet completed their holiday shopping , compared with 64% in the same period last year .

The main reasons these shoppers haven’t finished their holiday shopping are: not finding the “right” gift (40%), starting shopping late (35%), and waiting for better events and deals (32%). 70% of respondents said finding the perfect gift is more important than having it delivered on time for the holiday season.

Those who have not yet completed their purchases said they will do so in the coming weeks, with 31% planning to do their last shopping during Christmas week .

One in five respondents said that out-of-stock situations have affected their shopping, but most are not worried about when they will receive their goods. More than four in ten ( 42%) respondents hope to buy some holiday gifts after Christmas , with 62% of respondents saying they plan to shop between December 25 and 31. In the same period last year, this figure was 49%.

According to the survey, product categories most affected by out-of-stocks include electronics ( 31%), apparel and footwear (28%), children's products (20%) and entertainment products (18%) .

Of those who choose to buy gifts before Christmas, at least half will do the rest of their shopping online, including on marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay (57%), with electronics ( 21%) and clothing (18%) being the most popular product categories .

“Even though shoppers are starting their holiday shopping earlier this year, that doesn’t mean they’re finishing it earlier,” said Raji Behal, head of Klarna U.S. “Among online shoppers, the biggest focus when shopping is not the delivery date, but finding the perfect gift for their loved ones. In fact, not finding the right gift (40%) is the top reason for shoppers not completing their holiday purchases this year.”

" Buyers who have not yet completed their shopping are more willing to consult sellers for shopping advice than on social media , which is a good opportunity for sellers to promote their products, " said Raji Behal.

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