Consumer Briefing

Spending on holiday gift cards to drop

Gift cards are again the most-requested present for the holidays, but don't be surprised if you receive a discounted sweater instead.

Shoppers are expected to pull back on buying the popular cards for friends and family this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation.

The retail group's most recent survey found that on average, holiday shoppers plan to spend $139.91 on gift cards this year, a 5% drop from $147.33 last year. Total spending on gift cards is expected to reach $23.63 billion.

In another sign of the times, recipients can expect gift cards with lower monetary values. The average value per card this year will be $39.80, down from $40.54 last year, according to the survey, which polled 8,692 consumers from Nov. 3 to 10. More than three-fourths of those surveyed (77.2%) plan to buy at least one gift card this holiday season.

WAL-MART

Fees for sending money are cut

Wal-Mart has had the giant scissors out lately, cutting the price of toys, books, DVDs, flat-screen TVs and the fixings for Thanksgiving dinner, among other things.

Now, the company says it is reducing the fees it charges to send money during the busy holiday season.

Consumers can send as much as $200 anywhere in the U.S., or internationally, at a Wal-Mart MoneyCenter or customer service desk for $7. (It used to cost $11.) The transaction can be completed without a bank account or credit card, and Wal-Mart says funds are available in 10 minutes.

Sending money home is a big business that gets even bigger during the holiday season. Wal-Mart money transfers increase by 14% in December, according to the retailer's internal research.

To send $200 from Los Angeles to Mexico, Western Union charges $14.99 for an immediate transfer and $9.99 for a next-day transfer, according to the company's website.

LAS VEGAS

Rooftop fireworks return for Dec. 31

New Year's Eve fireworks will return to the rooftops of Las Vegas Strip hotels to ring in 2010 after ground-level displays disappointed revelers last year, event and county officials said.

"We're moving the fireworks show back to where it should be," said Pat Christenson, president of the event promoter, Las Vegas Events.

Christenson said the $550,000 fireworks show would be fired from atop seven tall hotels lining Las Vegas Boulevard. The street will again be closed to form a pedestrian mall for the event that tourism officials have dubbed America's Party.