Christmas budgets, gifts and traditions

Percentage of American adults who say they will be working within a holiday shopping budget, according to a Pew "Social Trends" survey: 56

Source: Pew Research Center for People and the Press

 · · · · · 

Percentage of U.S. small businesses that are planning a holiday party for their business, store or office in 2006, according to Constant Contact's "2nd Annual 2006 Small Business Holiday Outlook" survey: 47

Percentage of small-business owners who anticipate a strong holiday season in sales: 62

Source: Constant Contact

 · · · · · 

Year in which the cartoon "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" first aired on TV: 1964

Year in which "A Charlie Brown Christmas" first aired: 1965

Year in which "Frosty the Snowman" first aired: 1969

Source: Time, Volume 148, Number 23, Nov. 18, 1996

 · · · · · 

Percentage of movie fans who watch holiday films to ring in the Christmas season and help them get in the holiday mood, according to a holiday movie survey: 89

Percentage of movie fans who watch a particular movie as a part of their holiday tradition: 70

Rank of "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946), "A Christmas Story" (1983), "Miracle on 34th Street" (1947), "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" (1989) and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1964) as the all-time holiday favorites: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Source: Blockbuster

 · · · · · 

Number of real Christmas trees purchased in 2005, according to the latest data: 32.8 million

Average mean price of a real tree: $41.90

Percentage of people who cut their own tree: 12

Source: National Christmas Tree Association

 · · · · · 

Percentage jump in sales at jewelry stores between November and December 2005: 174