Easter Bunny won't be so kind this year

Easter spending is expected to drop this year during the global recession, with consumers planning to spend an average of $116.59 on the Easter holiday, 14% less than last year, according to a survey published in the Los Angeles Times.

Total spending will decline 12% to $12.7 billion from last year's $14.4 billion, according to the survey by the National Retail Federation and BIGresearch. Food, the biggest category of Easter purchases, will drop 8.3%, it reported.

But because Easter is three weeks later this year -- April 12 -- the extra lead time and shift into warmer weather will give retailers a better chance at promotions and hopefully more sales, a BIGresearch executive said.

I don't know about your house, but even without a job in a recession, I'll find someway to get a chocolate bunny or two in our house on Easter morning.