Americans plan to spend more on gifts this Christmas than in any holiday season in the past five years, according to a CNBC All-America Economic Survey. The average American plans to spend $765 this year, up 12 percent versus last year, and about 6.5 percent higher than the average across the survey's nine-year history. The survey also reflects that Americans have a more optimistic outlook on their expected home values, wage gains and stocks—all three of which are at or above their highest levels since the 2008 recession, according to the survey.
