Port Washington, NY, October 20, 2010 – The NPD Group Inc., a leading market research company, released the top ten list of where consumers intend to shop for holiday gifts this year.

This year fewer consumers plan to shop in each of the top ten channels.

Where Consumers Tell NPD They Plan To Shop For Holiday 2010

Source: The NPD Group, Inc./Annual Holiday Survey

"Forty-four percent of consumers told NPD they plan to look around for the best price and value before they buy, which could benefit online sales," according to NPD Chief Industry Analyst Marshal Cohen, "As consumers 'pre-search' by scouring websites for the best prices and deals, they will likely discover that shopping online offers not only competitive prices but a whole lot more convenience and they decide to buy online."

NPD asked survey participants about some of the factors that influence their choice of shopping destination. Besides value and price, some other things that will influence where consumers shop for gifts are: convenient location, quality of products the 'store' offers, and free shipping offers.

Which Factors Influence Where You Will Shop For Gifts?

Source: The NPD Group, Inc./Annual Holiday Survey

"Last year consumers wanted to spend as little as possible on gifts," noted Cohen, "This year they are being more selective about where they spend."

The NPD Holiday Survey of Consumer Purchase Intentions was fielded to members of NPD's online consumer panel from September 7th to September 15th, 2010. The survey was fielded to a U.S. representative sample; the findings presented here represent 2003 completed surveys. NPD maintains an online panel of nearly 2 million consumers that tell us about their shopping habits.