SEATTLE - It's beginning to look a lot like... Halloween, actually. But that hasn't stopped the Macy's in downtown Seattle from starting to put up holiday displays, or other businesses from planning for what they expect to be a tougher retail season. "We had our first Christmas shopper in the other day," said Matt Lawrence, who is co-owner of Ballard clothing store Asher Anson. "He was just scoping things out, he said he wanted to get things done early." Many businesses around Puget Sound say they're hoping for the best, even as almost two-thirds of Americans say the down economy is affecting their spending habits, according to the National Retail Federation. The group's annual nationwide survey reveals American consumers plan to spend more than $20 less per person this holiday season - down to an average of $682.74 from $705.01 in 2008. Most say they are spending less, though 55 percent say they are looking for more coupons. Thirty-four percent say they will either buy a joint gift for parents or kids, or make their own presents. And 39 percent said they'd start shopping before Halloween. "They're definitely buying more carefully, but they're buying," said Lawrence, who said that he's had to be more selective this year with inventory so they're not overstocking and losing money. "More styles, but less in each style, so we're not, you know, putting all our eggs in one basket."
