Consumers report that the high gasoline prices are having a negative impact on their frequency of shopping trips, which in turn affects spending.

The last-minute rush by consumers may have come too late. I think the season overall was uneven.

During the month of January, about 40 percent of gift cards are redeemed and that is exactly what consumers began to do this past week. As a result, chain stores saw their sales rise slightly.

Gasoline prices are still eating in the consumers' wallet, and fuel costs are now in the price of products that people buy, bringing about inflation worries. The consumer is going to be more budget conscious in the months ahead. They are going to shop around, or they are simply going to shop less.

Consumers don't like high prices, ... That's what they notice at the pump and out of their pocketbook.

The report focuses on prices paid by consumers without insurance and in doing so excludes manufacturer rebates or discounts.