ESCANABA — The air is colder, the pumpkins are rotting and Thanksgiving is just around the corner; it must be time for holiday shopping.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts that the average American will spend $902 on gifts, food, decorations, and other seasonal items, an increase of $27 per person from last year and a $106 increase from eight years ago in 2016.

Of the $902, the NRF reports that approximately $641 is spent on gifts for family, friends or coworkers.

The remaining $261 is used for seasonal items, including food, candy, decorations, greeting cards, and other festive items.

Americans will stimulate local economies, as 92 percent of adults in the United States plan to celebrate winter holidays such as Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah.

“The winter holidays are a treasured time for Americans, and they are prioritizing spending on family this holiday season,” NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen said.

Some residents in the area save money throughout the year by setting money aside or buying throughout the year.

“My plans are typically the same from year to year, buying things throughout the year, if I find good items, while also looking at deals that spring up around this time,” said Sophia Ziemba of Escanaba.

She added that the increased prices for groceries and other goods mean she has slightly less to spend. However, her methodology still allows her to make the needed holiday purchases.

“So while I may not be able to make larger purchases at one time, I can purchase multiple smaller things,” she said.

While some buy throughout the year, others, like Kaylee Hubert of Escanaba, put cash away throughout the year to prepare for holiday shopping.

“I’ve budgeted for Christmas gifts and set aside a few dollars from each paycheck throughout the year. Along with a purchased gift, I also try to make a homemade gift for each person on my list, which helps with the cost of holiday shopping,” Hubert said.

Kelly Pepin of Escanaba says he likes to wait until closer to Christmas Day to shop.

“I usually wait and do my shopping a couple weeks prior to Christmas unless I have to order something. The walking around, going from store to store, (and) watching people is what gets me in the holiday spirit,” he said.

He added that he budgets roughly the same amount each year.

Hubert and Pepin use online vendors for specific gifts or items they need help finding in the wild.

“If it’s something special or not available, I’ll buy it online, usually Amazon.com,” Pepin said.

Hubert said she plans to purchase most of her gifts online but will also shop locally, which she says is typical for her this time of year.

“I usually try to take advantage of local Black Friday deals, and this year, I will also be attending Ladies Night/Black Friday on Tuesday. If time permits, I would also like to visit Appleton, Wisconsin, and shop at the Fox Valley Mall,” Hubert said.

Her favorite local holiday shopping spots are Dunham’s, Harbor Freight, Hobby Lobby, L&M Fleet Supply, Marshalls, and Sayklly’s.

Melinda Tauke of Gladstone said she and her husband always spend too much, but she’s okay with that.

“Well, knowing my husband, he’ll look at our stuff and go, this isn’t enough and he’ll go get more stuff. We always spend way too much,” Tauke joked.

“I don’t think it’ll matter because it’s not about us; it’s about the kids.”

Robin Double of Cooks is traveling for the holidays this year, so she is looking for gifts that travel well and only take up a little room.

“So, we’re looking for smaller stuff that you can carry on a trip,” Double said.

Double and Tauke tend to wait to shop rather than buy throughout the year, sometimes at the last minute.

Each local resident said they would shop in-store but heavily utilize online retailers like Amazon, eBay, and others. This aligns with the data compiled by the NRF, which states that 57 percent of consumers will purchase holiday gifts online. While online platforms are heavily trafficked during the holidays, brick-and-mortar stores are also busy.

According to the NRF, 46 percent will shop at department stores, grocery stores, and supermarkets, followed by discount or thrift stores at 45 percent.

If you still need to shop, lines and aisles may be less busy. According to the NRF, 45 percent of holiday shoppers planned to gift shop before November.