Why so many buy last-minute gifts – NBC4 Washington

If you haven’t finished all your Christmas shopping yet, you’re not alone.

It’s last call for Christmas shopping. At Tysons Corner Center, one of the busiest malls in the area, you’ll find many braving the crowds to check off the last few items on their wish lists.

“I shop for me,” said Julie Moore. “I’m done with everyone else. It’s my turn.”

News4 asked shoppers what they thought of the crowds at the mall on Monday.

“It’s crazy,” Moore said. “I didn’t expect it to be so busy on a Monday morning.”

The National Retail Federation expects holiday shopping to see a 2.5 to 3.5% boost this year over last year, with about 157 million people choosing to shop on the final Saturday, known as ‘Super Saturday.’

But the last few days before the big day are also good shopping times.

“I still have a long way to go,” Rithany Sam said.

There’s no shame in being a last-minute shopper this year. Indeed, retail experts say that since Thanksgiving fell so late, the holiday shopping season is much shorter than it should be.

“It just came over us pretty quickly,” Ayo Omololu said. “I looked up last week and I was like, ‘Oh my God. Christmas is here.’

NRF believes that online shopping is driving the boost in Christmas retail sales.

“I thought it might not be as busy because of online shopping, so I was surprised,” Moore said.

However, many still choose a personal experience.

“I’m just an instant gratification person,” Sam said.

Whichever way you choose to shop, it just means the presents will be under the tree come Christmas Day.