If you heard “Frosty the Snowman” playing in the mall before Halloween, you aren’t alone…holiday shopping season began before we’d even sent kids out to trick or treat. What can retailers expect this year? Deloitte’s 28th Annual Survey of Holiday Spending and Trends has some predictions.

It’s probably no surprise that 68 percent of people surveyed plan to use their mobile device for holiday shopping. More than half of respondents will use their tablet or Smartphone to look for store locations and compare prices, while 47 percent will search for product information.

Local shops will be busy this year, predicts Deloitte. Although the Internet still reigns supreme as the top shopping destination, two-thirds (66 percent) of those surveyed plan to shop at smaller, independent businesses in lieu of larger chains.

Sixty percent of people expressed a desire to support their local economy, while others search for one of a kind gifts and 44 percent favor local stores for the convenience factor.

The survey reported that 54 percent of shoppers indicated that knowledgeable employees and pleasant customer service would lead them to make a purchase. Thirty-two percent said that the assistance of mobile technology in-store would convince them to head to the checkout.