VALDOSTA — While the national news continues to reflect a dismal outlook for the holiday shopping season, information released this week by the National Retail Federation paints a different picture.

According to the NRF’s research, most consumers haven’t started shopping yet, but that doesn’t mean they don’t plan to.

“Americans may be hesitant to purchase expensive gifts this holiday season, but personal and practical gifts will resonate most with shoppers this year,” said NRF president and CEO Tracy Mullin in a press release.

“Though many companies have already been featuring substantial sales and discounts, retailers may still have a few tricks up their sleeves to attract and entice holiday shopping.”

The hottest holiday gift items are expected to be clothes, video games, electronics, and gift certificates.

According to the NRF’s research, the majority of consumers are waiting for the bargain sales to begin their shopping this year.

“If consumers have been waiting for the best deals possible, their wait is over,” said Phil Rist, executive vice president of strategic initiatives at BIGresearch, the company conducting the surveys on behalf of the NRF, in a release. “Even though consumers will be watchful of their spending this year, shoppers may find the bargains too good to pass up and will treat themselves to something they’ve had their eye on for months.”

Locally, stores are gearing up for the expected onslaught of holiday shoppers on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, which is expected to be an even larger sales event than previous years.

“People are looking for bargains, and the ones in line at the stores are usually the ones who get the biggest bargains,” said Paul Clingan, regional manager of Belk at the Valdosta Mall.

According to Clingan, the store usually does a gift card giveaway that’s “huge” that morning, with shoppers lined up to enter the store at 5 a.m. “The first hour of that day is our best hour. Last year, by five minutes past 5, you could hardly move in the store, and we’re preparing for an even bigger crowd this year.”

The main anchor stores are opening at 5 a.m. Friday as are a number of other local retailers, some even earlier, to catch those holiday dollars.

On the other side of the spectrum, though, is Office Max. Store manager Gary Conley said the store opens at 7 a.m., on purpose, to “catch the ones who’ve been at the other stores by 5 and they’re ready to move on.”

Conley said last year, there were hundreds lined up by the time the store’s doors opened, and he too is expecting a bigger crowd this year, all looking for bargains.

“Cameras, digital picture frames, computers, all are big this year. We have some big sales planned for Friday, and there will be a two-page ad on the outside of our flyer this week.”

Although sales so far have been somewhat off from last year, Conley said they are picking up. “This week’s been great, so we’re hoping it’s going to be a good holiday season.”