It keeps coming earlier each year

I was in town this afternoon to do the weekly grocery shopping.  I also wanted to go to Foot Locker in the mall to price out some golf shoes, since I have a 25% off coupon.  But when I got there, the parking lot was almost completely full!  I didn't feel like fighting the crowds, so I left.  Costco's parking lot was fuller than usual too.  And there was a lot more traffic than usual on the road on the way home.  I keep hearing all these dire predictions about the upcoming Christmas shopping season, but if the malls are full 2 weeks BEFORE Thanksgiving, this looks more like boom than bust.

They've started running Christmas commercials on TV, and there are decorations and stuff up around the malls.  Costco has had Christmas stuff since September and Wal*Mart was playing Christmas music before Halloween! 

I've heard of keeping the Christmas spirit all year long, but this is getting ridiculous.