NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Three-quarters of Americans plan to ring in '06 by celebrating New Year's Eve in style, according to a recent survey.

The "Shopping in America Holiday 2005" survey, conducted by real estate investment trust Macerich Co. (Research), found that shoppers will spend an average of $172 on festivities, with parties ranking as the most popular New Year's Eve pastime.

Northeastern residents plan to spend the most cash ushering in the new year, an average of $256. Midwesterners plan to spend the least at $119. Western residents will throw down $169 and Southerners will cough up $159, the survey said.

On average, men will outspend women on New Year's Eve festivities by almost $65. But women revelers are more likely to splurge on New Year's Eve duds than men, the survey said.

The survey polled more than 2,300 shoppers between the ages of 12 to 75 and had a 2 percent margin of error.

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