With the election falling in the middle of holiday shopping, as of mid-​October many U.S. consumers say they will have a more conservative holiday spending budget this year. According to the National Retail Federation’s annual consumer spending survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, consumers plan to spend an average of $935.58 during the holiday shopping season. Total spending includes gifts for others, self-​spending, food, flowers, decorations and greeting cards for Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Total planned spending this year is second only to the record total spending in 2015, at $952.58.

“Everywhere you turn — whether you’re picking up a newspaper or watching television — political advertisements are taking up ad space that retailers typically use to get holiday shopping on the minds of consumers across the country,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Once the election has passed, we anticipate consumers will pull themselves out of the election doldrums and into the holiday spirit.”

In a separate NRF flash poll, more than a quarter of consumers say the election will impact their spending plans for the holidays. In addition, 43 percent say they are being more cautious with their spending due to the uncertainty of the election season. However, when push comes to shove, 87 percent of consumers could be convinced to spend an extra $25 this holiday season if tempted by a good sale or promotion, the perfect gift for themselves or others or free shipping.

This year's AudienceSCAN study found 34.7% of Greeting Card Shoppers vote in every election, and 15.1% are conservative on economic issues.

“Retailers should prepare for a rush of consumers in the weeks following the presidential election as they get more economic and political certainty and are looking to take advantage of promotions and deals that are too good to pass up for their friends, family and even themselves,” Shay said.

Fifty-​eight percent of consumers plan to buy for themselves, spending an average of $139.61, up 4 percent from last year’s $133.74 and marking the second-​highest level of personal spending in the survey’s 13-​year history.

Gift shops wanting to make the most of last-​minute campaigns can focus on sponsored search results (like on Google, Yahoo or Bing), because AudienceSCAN data revealed 32.4% of Greeting Card Shoppers took action based upon these in the past month.

“Many shoppers are taking the approach of ‘one for you, two for me’ this holiday season,” Shay said. “Retailers are preparing by offering a wide array of merchandise and promotions — items shoppers want to give as great gifts at prices so good they want to buy for themselves too.”

According to the survey, consumers say they will spend $588.90 on gifts for others and $207.07 for items such as food, decorations, flowers and greeting cards this year.

Greeting card sellers can reach these buyers with newspaper (print, online, mobile or tablet) ads. The AudienceSCAN study reported 32.3% of Greeting Card Shoppers took action after seeing ads here in the past month.