Christmas Eve

In the movie A Christmas Story, Ralphie had his sights set on just one gift: a Red Ryder BB gun. But many Americans this season clearly had heavier arms on their minds: Background checks on gun buyers hit a single-month record in December.

In a bid to give shoppers more time to scoop up holiday gifts while dangling the carrot of shorter lines and fewer crowds, Macy's is bringing back its 24-hour stores for three all-nighters.

Setting a new holiday shopping tradition, Macy's and Target will swing open their doors at midnight on Black Friday for the first time ever, giving shoppers a jump start on door-buster sales while offering an implicit challenge to their fellow retail brethren to follow suit.

Holiday shipping deadlines are approaching faster than you'd expect with many cutoffs coming in less than two weeks. If you like to procrastinate or are just waiting for a new deal before ordering your presents online, Dealnews and other sites are compiling lists of shipping cutoff dates to make...

FedEx (FDX) and United Parcel Service (UPS) are gearing up for a busy holiday season with expectations of record-setting numbers of shipments. Their upbeat estimates fly in the face of tepid retail sales and expectations that recession-weary consumers will keep a tight rein on purchases this...

Last year marked the start of a Hallmark holiday of sorts that quickly gained popularity with last-minute holiday shoppers; Free Shipping Day. On Free Shipping Day last year, more than 100,000 shoppers picked up Christmas gifts with free, guaranteed-in-time-for-Christmas shipping at more than 250...

If you haven't already started your online Christmas shopping this year, have no fear. WalletPop has already covered the deadline for sending packages to our troops overseas, as well as the dates for many retailers. We've also looked at the ins and outs behind Free Shipping Day, a day of guaranteed...