With the holidays literally right around the corner, the majority of kids are anxiously awaiting to receive their beloved Xbox games, Pillow Pets, and Easy-Bake Ovens (to name a few). With retail stores packed and shoppers eagerly buying, can kids expect more presents than last year?

According to the National Retail Federation, holiday sales this season are expected to increase 2.8% from last year’s unexpected high figures. The federation sums up the 2011 holiday season in one word: average. Zepol’s U.S. Census Bureau tool, TradeView™, shows the import values for toys, games, and sports equipment are down over 5% from January through October of this year. Figures for the highest valued months, August through October, are all down this season compared to the previous one. The real kicker comes when looking at overall consumer product imports, which are up over 7% from last year. The figures suggest that the kids may be getting the short end of the stick this holiday season. All hope is not lost, however, as November statistics are yet to be seen; will Santa come through at the last minute?