Holiday Central 2011 - Special Report

As shoppers hunt down bargains and gift ideas for the holidays, it will be hard for some to remember a time when they couldn’t pull out their smartphone and hunt down a store location, compare a product’s price, or scan customer reviews.

Wealthy Americans may appear to the masses as a unified group, but there is divergence in the attitudes of the rich toward holiday spending this year – which means that the key to how the holiday season unfolds may rest in the hands of the wealthiest.

With declining categories such as GPS devices and computers, no new must-have videogame console, and little buzz beyond tablets as the next big must-have gadget, consumer electronics is poised to have a blue holiday.

While there's little doubt the videogame industry will once again end the year with negative growth, publishers are positioning themselves to go out with a good fight.

For bargain hunters on the prowl for the best deal, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are no longer an either-or proposition — and that’s a huge plus for consumers.

Yes, Virginia there's an app for that. Ten apps that will help stretch your holiday budget.

In a weak economy, the annual ritual of tipping can get even trickier as givers feel pressured to tip what they can’t afford. Here's how to keep your manners and your wallet intact.

A handy reference that shows who to tip and how much to give.