AUBURN – Big Kmart manager Roger Sanborn predicted Friday that area shoppers would spend more this holiday season.

“My numbers are up right now,” he said. “I think everybody was waiting to get through Thanksgiving.”

The National Retail Federation also predicts a rise in consumer spending.

Nationally, the average consumer plans to spend $791 this season, up from $738 last year, according to the federation’s 2006 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey.

The survey also found that shoppers will take full advantage of seasonal sales and discounts and spend an additional $99 on themselves.

Some reasons for higher spending are falling gas prices and rising consumer confidence, according to NRF President Tracy Mullin.

Discount stores will continue to be the most popular place for Christmas shopping, but people will also buy at specialty stores, grocery stores, drug stores, crafts or fabrics stores and online, the NRF said.

On Friday, shoppers streamed into local discount stores as soon as the doors opened. By 6:30 a.m., the parking lot at Kmart was full.

Six hours later, it was still full.

“We’re right out straight. It hasn’t slowed down a bit,” Sanborn said at noon.

Electronics items were top sellers. One of the store’s early-bird specials was a color television for $89. They sold out by 9 a.m., Sanborn said.

Other big sellers were DVD players, DVD movies and computer games. “It’s an electronic world,” Sanborn said.

Table games of Ping-Pong and pool were disappearing, as were Christmas decorations and wrapping paper.

Shoppers said they were spending the same as last year, or more.

Nicole Hills of Lewiston said she’d spend more because she now has a stepdaughter.

Al Wing of Turner said he’d spend about the same. He was laid off from his job in March, he said.

David Higgs of Lewiston was planning to spend more because he has more grandchildren.

“About the same,” said Shelley Gilliam of Phippsburg. She’ll buy mostly gifts that are necessities, but also some fun things.

Her mother, Vivian Merritt, said she would spend less and would stick to practical gifts.

“I’ll probably spend about the same,” said Tammy Gayton of Lewiston. She was looking to buy electronic gifts – “a little bit of fun.”