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Post-Christmas Shopping Expected To Be Busy

FORT WORTH (AP/CBSDFW.COM) - Experts are predicting one of the biggest shopping days of the year Monday.

Authorities say retailers are expected to cut prices the day after Christmas as consumers head to stores to exchange gifts and hunt for bargains.

The National Retail Federation estimates gift returns will be up four percent from last year.

"My mother actually bought him an identical shirt that I bought him so we're going to return it," said Kim Pawlowski of Arlington, "I was actually really surprised with how easy it was, we came in got in line and were serviced within a minute, so I was surprised considering last year was really busy."

Clark Hodges of Hodges Capital tells WSB Radio in Atlanta the day after Christmas might be the third biggest-shopping day of the year after Black Friday and the Saturday before Christmas.

Ellen Ward, co-owner of FoxTale Book Shoppe in Woodstock, Ga. tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution the store is trying to get as much out the door as possible.

Ward says the upcoming week "is about selling it down as low as we can."

One thing that is driving sales this post-holiday season: gift cards.

For the last five years they've topped the list of the most requested presents.

"I can get what I need or what I want and I don't have to worry about returning or exchanging something if I don't like it," said shopper Natalie Whitely, "it's the easiest way to get people what they really want."

Shoppers can now exchange unwanted gift cards. Monday is the first ever gift card exchange day.

Did you receive a gift card to a store you'll never shop at? The website giftcardexchangeday.com lets users trade in their unwanted cards for cash or cards they'll actually use.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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