Southern California shoppers will not be in a buoyant holiday mood, at least when it comes to seasonal spending.

That dour buzz comes from the annual forecast of seasonal spending from the accounting giant Deloitte. The outlook, based on a survey of shoppers, shows skittish consumers will spend $1,627 this holiday season. That’s 14% less than 2024 – and it’s down 21% from the recent peak in 2021.

Now, this Scrooge-like thriftiness is not just local. Nationally, Deloitte’s poll estimated holiday shopping to be $1,595 per household, off 10% from 2024.

The “why?” is simple. The survey found that 62% of Southern California consumers expect a weakening economy ahead, compared with 34% in 2024.

Similar anxieties were found across the U.S., with 57% of Americans anticipating upcoming economic

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