Last-minute holiday shopping rush is on

FAIRFAX DISTRICT (KABC) -- It's the last shopping day before Christmas, and malls are expected to be packed Monday with people looking for those last-minute gifts and sales.

A lot of people want to hit the malls and stores early and get all their shopping done fast. Some people woke up in a panic Monday morning, realizing it was the last day to get their holiday gifts.

Retailers are doing their best to help tardy shoppers and their own bottom lines by offering extended hours. Some stores, such as Kmart, have been open around the clock since the weekend.

Malls have been jammed for the last few days with shoppers on the hunt for last-minute Christmas gifts and bargains.

With Christmas falling on a Tuesday this year, it gave procrastinators even more time to put off their shopping. The last-minute shopping seems to be working out in their favor because deep discounts are being offered.

The holiday shopping season started strong for many merchants then quickly took a plunge. Early indications are the weekend was good for retailers but they're counting on a Christmas Eve shopping surge to help them meet sales goals.

Shoppers have all kinds of reasons to wait until the last minute.

"I think there's a lot of sales going on, I think it's pushing it to the last minute and people are just kind of diving in there and getting everything they can," said shopper Lorez Campos.

"It's like a family thing already, we always wait until the last minute, always," said shopper Ashley Herrera.

The three days before Christmas account for around 15 percent of holiday shopping sales. It's a very important time for retailers.

Kmart has been having a 64-hour sale. It started Saturday morning and will go until closing time at 10 p.m. Monday. The Beverly Center and other local malls are offering late hours on this Christmas Eve.

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