IN BLANKSTARE NEWS: The holidays are starting earlier and earlier

The holidays are starting earlier and earlier ... It used to be that we would at least get through Halloween before the most wonderful time of the year began. Not anymore. A Bankrate survey found that 25% of shoppers either began their holiday shopping in August or plan to start shopping this month. Another 25% say they’ll start ticking off their Christmas list beginning in October. That means 50% of shoppers are starting their holiday shopping before November.