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CNN Live Saturday

Last-Minute Shoppers Hit Malls for Holiday Buying

Aired December 22, 2001 - 16:27   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: The clock is running out for you holiday shoppers out there, but a new survey from the International Mass Retail Association says about 60 percent of shoppers are still searching for gifts. About 15 percent haven't even started yet -- oh God.

CNN's Brian Palmer is standing by at the mall in Manhattan with a look at how these last-minute shoppers are faring. Are they buying anything or just looking?

BRAIN PALMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Catherine, we are right in the middle of it and we're joined by someone who is indeed buying -- Jessica Roblez (ph) of Manhattan. Jessica (ph), what are you buying today?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm buying for my kids; for my grandparents; and for my mom.

PALMER: You're actually returning something for your mom today ...

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My mother's gift for Thanksgiving because I know she's picky and she was going to want to change it. Lucky thing I did because she does want to change it.

PALMER: Now compared to other years, are you spending more or are you spending less?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think I'm spending about the same -- about the same.

PALMER: So the economy is not a huge concern for you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's less product -- more money, less product.

PALMER: Oh, OK. Now what percentage of your shopping is done and how much more do you have to go?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'd say about 80 percent. I still have about two more people I have to shop for and then my kids -- that's a separate issue. PALMER: Right. So you don't even count the kids in that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. The kids are completely different. That's a different budget.

CALLAWAY: All right, we obviously have a problem with that, with CNN's Brian Palmer standing by at a mall in Manhattan with a woman who may have just made her mom very angry, calling her picky on national television.

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