This small American town will be surprisingly generous with gift giving this holiday season

Turns out Santa is running a numbers racket.

If you want and hope the man in red brings you everything you’ve been asking for this year, a new study suggests that where you live has a lot to do with how many presents will be left under your tree this Christmas – right down to your zip code.

WalletHub took a closer look at more than 550 different cities across the United States to see how much we’re spending — with researchers uncovering plenty of regional differences as Americans begin to loosen their giving budgets of gifts.

“Depending on the city…the vacation budget[s] This year it could range from just over $200 to more than $4,000, taking into account residents’ incomes, their existing debt obligations and the cost of living,” WalletHub’s Chip Lupo said in a statement.

The number crunchers weighed a total of five metrics to come up with their ugly and beautiful list — income, age, debt-to-income ratio, monthly income-to-monthly spending ratio and savings-to-monthly spending ratio.

Turns out, Tony Newton, Mass. has the highest average vacation budget at $4,206, according to the site.

It certainly helps that the Boston suburb has the third-highest median annual household income in the country — over $185,000.

That means, WalletHub said, that the average Newton resident, with more than $36,000 saved, has another $5,900 or more left over each month after paying all of their essential expenses. Which means they can afford to be extra generous over the festive period, experts suggest.

New York City residents won’t be giving — or getting — coal in their stockings this year, but the city’s maximum holiday budget of $1,539 pales in comparison, giving the Big Apple a 163- shocking on the list.

Nearby Yonkers is also faring better, with a maximum vacation budget of $1,623, placing the city at No. 141.

Both cities should count their blessings compared to many other parts of the country, according to the list makers.

Just think, you could live in Lauderhill, Fla., which came in last on the list, with the lowest vacation budget of just $217.

Broward County Jail residents aren’t the only ones tightening their belts, however.

U.S. holiday sales are forecast to grow at their slowest pace since 2018, amid fears that lingering inflation is wiping out consumers’ savings, according to a new survey.

Holiday retail sales are projected to grow between 2.3% and 3.3%, reaching $1.6 trillion between November and January, according to Deloitte’s annual holiday retail forecast.

That’s down from last year’s holiday season, when retail sales in the same period rose 4.3% to a total of $1.5 trillion, according to the US Census Bureau.

The US personal savings rate fell to 3.4% in June from 3.5% in May – making June the lowest monthly rate since 2022, according to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis.

“Rising credit card debt and the possibility that many consumers have depleted their pandemic-era savings are likely to weigh on sales growth this season compared to last,” the Deloitte Insights economist said in a statement. , Akrur Barua.

Holiday season sales typically account for more than half of US retailers’ annual revenue. But regardless of what shoppers spent last year, they should reevaluate their shopping list again, suggested WalletHub, a personal finance site.

“No matter how wealthy you are this season, it’s important to stick to a budget that fits your financial profile so you don’t rack up unsustainable debt and end up in a bad spot after the holidays,” Lupo noted. .

“There are many ways to enjoy the holidays and show you care without spending a lot of money, such as hosting potlucks or giving handmade gifts.”