Staples survey: Americans in "gift-giving rut"

A staggering 87 percent of consumers expect to receive a boring or a traditional gift this holiday season, according to a survey by Staples Inc. of Framingham, the office-supply retailer, and 90 percent of respondents said they'll experience some stress while holiday shopping.

Such results neatly play into Staples' holiday marketing campaign, which notes that the chain's "department of unexpected gifts" is the perfect "antidote to ho-hum giving."

"Our survey results reinforce that Americans have fallen into a gift-giving rut," Staples executive vice president Shira Goodman said in a statement.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)