Nearly 43 percent of consumers plan to purchase holiday gifts online, up from 38.3 percent a year ago, according to an October survey commissioned by the National Retail Federation (NRF), which estimates that holiday sales - online and offline - will total $435.3 billion, up 5 percent from last year, reports Internet Retailer. Average holiday spending on holiday gifts, decorations, greeting cards, candy and food and flowers is expected to be $738, up 5.1 percent from 2004.