![Molly Haakonson, of Minnetonka, did some Christmas shopping with her daughters Suzy, 15, and Ann, 20, not pictured, Wednesday afternoon at the Ridgedale Target. They were browsing the selection of holiday goods in Target's "Wondershop" holiday display. ] Aaron Lavinsky • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com The unofficial kick-off to retailers' busiest season starts after the turkey is put back in the fridge on Thanksgiving. This send-up story will roll in the forecast for Minnesota from Deloit](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/SQBSOMBWKJMU22IC543S7MI3JM.jpg?&w=1080)
Twin Cities shoppers plan to open their pocketbooks for the holiday season, spending 20 percent more on gifts and entertaining this year.
A good 20 percent are likely to begin when the plates are cleared from Thanksgiving dinner, if local shoppers follow national norms reported by National Retail Federation.
A new survey from Deloitte estimates that local shoppers will spend about $1,238 per household on gifts this year, a hefty $200 more than last year.
Compared with both the national average and greater Midwestern region, shoppers in the Twin Cities are more frugal in their spending patterns, a trend consistent with last year's results.
"Midwestern values — or the cost of living here," said Matt Marsh, a lead partner in Deloitte's retail and distribution practice who is based in Minneapolis.
Thanksgiving Day shoppers this year will find themselves at the starting gate of a five-day sprint that the retail federation estimates will draw in 164 million people between now and Cyber Monday.
At the last check of the U.S. Census, that's a tidy one-half of the nation's population.
Retailers — including Minnesota giants Target and Best Buy — are gearing up for what they hope will be the busiest shopping season in a decade, as consumers feel more confident about their finances.
