Report: Holidays greeted with cautious optimism

American consumers are seeing their home values and wages rise, but concerns about the “fiscal cliff” and the overall economy are countering the optimism and tempering plans for holiday spending, according to a CNBC survey. Shoppers are expected to spend an average of $742 on gifts this year, up from the $740 they spent last year, according to NRF data. Read the CNBC story here.