Daily deal websites are fundamentally changing consumers' holiday shopping habits, with 78% of U.S. broadband households having reviewed Internet-based retailer and manufacturer offers in the past 30 days, according to new consumer research from Parks Associates. Over two-thirds of consumers checked emails from retailers, manufacturers, or daily deal services at least once in the last month, making these methods more popular than newspaper advertisements.

Consumer Decision Process: Holiday Intentions shows 2011 consumer purchase intentions for CE products, after a steep decline in the 2010 holiday season, have rebounded to near-2009 levels. Almost 50% of U.S. broadband households intend to purchase a CE product between early November and January 1, compared to 38% last year.

Consumers also are shopping earlier than last year, giving retailers a longer window to move their products. Still, consumers are wary of the weak economy, and budgets for many popular CE devices have dropped since last year.