Fewer willing to take on holiday credit card debt

The number of consumers who are comfortable taking on credit card debt this holiday season fell significantly even as Americans say they plan to spend more on gift shopping.

The amount the average consumer plans to spend on holiday gift shopping has increased 22 percent from 2010, up to a total of $751, but at the same time, fewer are willing to take on credit card debt that they can't afford to pay back in full at the end of the month, according to the latest CNBC All-America Economic Survey. In all, just one in five consumers say they're planning to carry their credit card debt into the new year. Instead, they plan to rely more heavily on cash, checks, their debit cards.

The consumers groups most eager to avoid running up their credit card debt are those in the Midwest, those who are between 35 and 49, those who have a high school education or less, blue collar workers and African-Americans, the survey found.

Consumers have recently been increasing the amount they borrow on their credit cards, but spending hasn't even begun to approach pre-recession levels.