NEW YORK — Holiday Tech Shoppers Plan to Spend $808, CNET Says

Holiday shoppers plan to spend $808 each on tech gifts this year, a figure CNET describes as a significant drop, according to a report republished by Chain Store Age.

The number arrives as retailers finalize holiday marketing plans built around consumer electronics, a category that typically anchors November and December sales. Chain Store Age's write-up of the CNET findings does not specify the prior-year comparison figure used to calculate the decline, leaving the size of the pullback undefined even as the direction is clear.

What does the $808 figure cover, according to CNET?

The figure represents planned per-shopper spending on tech gifts for the coming holiday season, as reported by CNET and picked up by Chain Store Age. The available source material does not break the total down by device category, such as phones, laptops, or smart-home products, nor does it specify the survey population or dates fielded.

Why does the report call this year's spending a decline?

CNET's own characterization, as relayed by Chain Store Age, labels the $808 figure a significant drop. The originating material available does not include the comparison baseline, so the percentage or dollar size of that year-over-year change cannot be independently confirmed here. Shoppers and retailers reading the headline figure should treat the word "drop" as the outlet's framing rather than a fully documented calculation until the underlying methodology is published in full.

What is left unclear in the report?

The source material reviewed does not specify whether the $808 figure reflects total holiday tech spending or a narrower subset, such as gifts purchased for others versus self-purchases. It also does not address how the figure was gathered, through a consumer survey, retailer sales data, or another method. Readers seeking that detail should consult the original CNET reporting directly.

How might a smaller tech budget affect other holiday categories?

The Chain Store Age item focuses narrowly on tech spending and does not address how a tighter electronics budget might redirect dollars toward apparel, home goods, or other gift categories. Retailers across categories often watch tech spending as an early signal because electronics purchases tend to compete directly with clothing and accessories for the same household gift budget.

Where can shoppers redirect a smaller gift budget?

For readers weighing where else to spend if tech budgets tighten, HTT News has separately covered tradeoffs between natural and recycled fibers for holiday clothing gifts and the influence of Vivienne Westwood on ethical fashion practices. Shoppers trying to track discretionary spending more closely this season have also turned to budgeting-adjacent tools, including the mindfulAI Keyboard, which is marketed to help users pause before completing purchases.

mindfulAI Keyboard — An iPhone keyboard that rewrites a draft in a tone you pick. Four free AI actions a day.