Philadelphians are self-gifting this holiday season

Driving the news: Philadelphia's holiday spending is expected to drop to $1,464 per household this season — an 18% decrease from last year — with nearly three-quarters of those surveyed expecting higher prices.

• That's less than the national ($1,595) and Northeast ($1,771) spending averages.

How it works: Deloitte surveyed 431 Philadelphians between late August and mid-September with a margin of error of ± 5%.

Zoom in: 59% of Philadelphians expect the economy to weaken in the coming year, up from 29% in 2024.

• That's on par with what respondents polled nationally said, accounting for the least optimistic outlook since 1997.

Reality check: More Philadelphians are thinking of ways to be frugal, including shifting to more affordable brands and even giving DIY gifts.

• More than three-quarters of locals say they'll shop during Thanksgiving week to take advantage of deals.

The intrigue: 30% of Philly shoppers say they'll seek out American-made gifts.

• Many Philadelphians say wish lists make holiday shopping less stressful, and some are even turning to AI to make their searches easier.