Gift Cards: Now One of America's Most-Preferred Gifts

In the not-too-distant past gift cards were considered to be the domain of lazy people and desperate last-minute shoppers. They were a gift of "last resort," usually given only when there was no other choice. However, in a few short years things have changed dramatically. According to several recent reports, gift cards are now in fact one of the most popular gifts in America.

"What we've seen in recent years is a real explosion in the popularity of gift cards. A huge percentage of people now actually request them in place of more 'traditional' gifts," according to Jamie Clark, a researcher and co-editor for Gift-Card-Guide.com. "Obviously, many people are quite happy to give gift cards because of the convenience factor. In total, gift card purchases are expected to be around $18.5 billion this year — almost 15 percent of total holiday sales!"

One recent survey, conducted by the International Council of Shopping Centers, showed that nearly 60 percent of consumers purchased at least one gift card as a gift last year. Even more are expected to do so this holiday season. A report by the National Retail Federation, a Washington D.C. trade group, showed that over 50 percent of Americans put gift cards on their wish lists — more than consumer electronics, jewelry, and clothing.

It's obvious that the popularity of gift cards will only continue to grow, as more and more retailers and credit companies offer them to consumers. It's important, however, to take a few precautions when buying gift cards for friends and family. "To avoid scams and other problems, you should really only buy gift cards from established, well-known retailers. Also, find out if there are expiration dates on the cards and make sure that the people you give them to are aware that they must use them within a certain period of time."

For more useful tips and up-to-date information about gift cards visit: http://www.gift-card-guide.com

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