The Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — With luxury and electronic goods posting double-digit sales declines over the holiday season, shoppers still rung up warmth and good cheer in a spate of recession-inspired buying.
Utility companies saw a notable uptick in programs that allow gift-givers to pay the gas and electric bills of friends, relatives or families.
Consumers Energy, a gas and electric utility in Michigan, reported an estimated $265,000 in utility gift purchases by year's end, a 6 percent increase from 2007.
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