Gift cards will be more popular than ever this year, thanks largely to rule changes that make them more consumer-friendly. Still, gift givers, and recipients, should be aware of some key differences between various types of cards.
[Read: Why Holiday Shoppers Are Starting Early This Year.]
The National Retail Federation reports that just over 8 in 10 shoppers will buy one or more gift cards this year, and on average, shoppers will spend $156.86 on cards--the highest amount ever recorded by NRF's survey. That makes gift cards a $28.79 billion industry. The majority of people surveyed (about 6 in 10) say they're happy to receive gift cards, too. The most popular gift cards are for coffee shops, department stores, book stores, and restaurants.
Why the Hottest Gift of 2012 Is a Gift Card
