A record number of Americans took the easy way out when it came to holiday shopping this year, according to a recent report from America’s Research Group.

Fifty-one percent of consumers gave cash or gift certificates in 2002, compared with 39 percent last holiday season, according to the firm’s 2002 Christmas survey.

Local retailers confirmed that even if the economy wasn’t steady this year, holiday gift card and certificate sales were strong.

“It’s exceeded years past,” said Lawrence SuperTarget team leader Brett Schubert. “We were very strong in our gift card sales this season.”

Schubert said the gift card boom could be attributed to consumers having one less week to shop this year.

“It also allows the person to hit some of the after-Christmas bargains that are out there,” he said.

Stephanie Whitten’s aunt gave her a $20 Target gift card for the holidays, and Whitten recently spent an afternoon at the Lawrence store making the most of the holiday bonus.

“I got a DVD, some shoes, a makeup bag and some other things,” she said.

Whitten went over the gift card amount, though, and spent $18 of her own money — something retailers are counting on to compensate for a sluggish holiday shopping season that forced many stores to slash prices even more than they had planned.

“It’s wonderful. Add-on sales are what really drive business,” Schubert said. “If someone gets a $20 gift card, most likely they’re going to come in and spend over that.”

In fact, Schubert said, gift cards can work better than advertising.

“Gift cards drive the foot traffic into the building, and they get in here and see the great bargains, so they’re looking to spend more,” he said.