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Last-Minute Shopping? Join The Crowd

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It's Christmas Eve and many procrastinators still have some shopping to get done. Malls and shopping centers in the Twin Cities have been packed this holiday shopping season.

A yearly study by the University of St. Thomas says the average household in the metro is spending $773 on gifts this year. That's up almost 10 percent from last year.

And for some, the shopping is far from over.

"I'm the perpetual procrastinator that knows that I'm going to be this way every year. And sadly I wait in lines and I shake my head. I just talk to the other procrastinators, because we're all in it together," shopper Samantha Knops said.

Chris Stanford reported live from the Mall of America Monday morning, which saw a busy weekend along with many other malls across the Twin Cities.

Procrastinators went searching for the perfect gift on what some called "Super Saturday." Experts think this past weekend's sales will surpass Black Friday thanks to sales and extended hours.

Toys R Us was open for an 88-hour marathon leading up to Christmas. Also, Macy's held a 48 hour sale over the weekend. From Friday morning through Sunday morning, the store offered deals around the clock.

But it wasn't just big retailers getting the boost in business. WCCO checked in on several small, locally-owned stores which had big crowds and long lines at the registers.

The Mall of America will be open until 6 p.m. Monday.

If you're looking for some specific last-minute gift ideas for the man or woman in your life, Stanford talked with the mall's trend specialist Sara Rogers about some of the best ideas you may not have considered. You can watch the segments below:

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