Even though it's still a few months away, the 2012 holiday shopping season is expected to surpass last year's numbers. One trend that is also anticipated to see a rise in use is online purchases, as shoppers increasingly browse the internet to find and buy gifts.

A survey by RetailMeNot found that nearly one-third of consumers prefer to shop online for holiday purchases, and industry experts believe that number will continue to grow. Fifty-nine percent of customers stated they plan to shop at brick-and-mortar locations, and 10 percent of respondents said they are not planning on purchasing gifts in the weeks leading up to and during the holiday season. Additionally, the survey revealed that some online shoppers are not fully confident in the economy, as 71 stated they have a dismal view of current conditions.

However, just because some internet shoppers may not feel optimistic about the economy, retailers should soon begin efforts to prepare for the holiday season, both online and in-store. ClickZ reports that the shopping period doesn't start with Thanksgiving, but gets earlier each year, according to research by BIGinsight. Forty percent of holiday consumer purchases take place before Halloween, the research found.