Christopher Richardson, 7, shows his father, Bill, one of the items on his Christmas wish list this year at Readmore's Hallmark store in St. Marys. Area sales tax revenue indicates shoppers are hitting stores earlier this year and spending more.

Local retailers may have good reason to be jolly this holiday season. Shoppers appear to be hitting the stores earlier than last year and are more willing to part with their cash, according to area businesses. "Sales were gre . . .