Holiday shoppers digging deep for cash

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Shoppers are ‘going green’ this holiday season, pulling good old fashioned cash out of their wallets, and that has retailers concerned.

The percentage of consumers who pay for gifts with cash and debit cards instead of credit is expected to jump this holiday shopping season. According to a new report by the National Retail Federation. about 71-percent shoppers will be paying with cash this year.

22News decided to put that statistic to the test at the Eastfield Mall in Springfield.

“I spend mostly in cash. It's good because you don't have any bills to pay. You can buy it then and there. You have no wait and you don't have any risks,” said Matthew Fanning.

People told 22News they are digging into their wallets for cash instead of credit cards simply because they don't want to pay the high interest rates.

"i pay with cash because i just don't want to pay interest on anything anymore. Cash is important. I only have what I have," said Bryan Loud.

Store clerks often find it easier to persuade people using credit to make a purchases, so this new trend has some retailers worried about a difficult holiday shopping season.