Rising gas prices. Falling home sales. Bah, humbug.

Dire predictions of a sluggish holiday season seem far from the minds of holiday shoppers swarming the sales racks at the Maine Mall and other retail hubs in southern Maine, including the outlet stores in Kittery.

Early reports indicate that retail sales rose the weekend after Thanksgiving in Maine and across the nation, with consumers seeking bargains. Sales and special promotions are expected to continue through the holiday season.

“I’m not spending any less than I did last Christmas,” said Lisa Morrison, who drove from Hampden, near Bangor, for a recent day of holiday shopping at the Maine Mall.

Surrounded by shopping bags, Morrison said she expects to make more online purchases this holiday season, simply as a way to save on gas at the pump.

“I have to shop,” added Ann Foley, Morrison’s sister, who lives in South Portland.

The sisters said they looked forward to the sales events, giveaways and special promotions that have sent thousands of shoppers flocking to the Maine Mall and stores nearby.

The heavy traffic of bargain hunters and holiday shoppers has continued this week in southern Maine.

Panic by the nation’s largest retailers has resulted in deep discounts for American shoppers at stores and online. The strategy seems to be working.

“Shopping is more plentiful this year than it was at this time last year,” said Ellyne Fleshner, senior marketing manager at the Maine Mall.

She added that several chain stores at the mall were their company’s top performers in the Northeast at the start of the holiday shopping season. Indeed, Maine’s retails hubs are drawing crowds with extended hours and bargains.

• Early morning sales at Toys “R” Us on the day after Thanksgiving caused a traffic jam in the South Portland store’s parking lot and created long lines from the back of the store to the cash register.

• In Kittery, outlet stores joined together for a major promotion on extended hours and holiday sales. Retailers like J. Crew and Banana Republic advertised up to 40 to 50 percent off merchandise over the Thanksgiving weekend. Lynn Smith, marketing director for the Kittery Outlet Association, said the stores offer holiday sales similar to the shopping malls to keep up with the competition.

• Major retailers in Kittery and at the Maine Mall also are targeting their most loyal customers with postcards and e-mails, offering extra holiday discounts if they order online or visit shops.

• Online retailers are following the lead of bricks-and-mortar stores, offering incentives such as free shipping with every holiday purchase. L.L. Bean, based in Freeport, is promoting free shipping with no minimum purchase for the first time in three years.

Likewise, Trips With Pets, an online travel guide/retailer based in South Portland, also is offering free shipping for orders from its virtual pet boutique.

“We offered free shipping last year and noticed a huge increase in business,” said Kim Salerno, founder and president of Trips with Pets and ChooChoo Beans, a sister site that exclusively sells dog beds.

The perk seems to be drawing customers again this year, Salerno said. “We’re very busy. A lot of people are buying our products for holiday gifts.”

Online holiday sales kicked into high gear the Monday after Thanksgiving. Dubbed “Cyber Monday,” online retailers traditionally see an uptick in shoppers who have scouted the malls for holiday discounts, and then go online to comparison shop and find even better deals.

Nationwide, retail sales are expected to hit $475 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. Big-box discount stores like Wal-Mart and Target have fared the best so far, according to the National Retail Federation.

But higher-end department stores are taking their cues from the discount chains. Macy’s at the Maine Mall is drawing early holiday crowds with some clothing and housewares marked down as much as 50 percent.

Luxury items may be the hardest hit this season. Zale’s Jewelers will offer up to 70 percent off during a special four-day holiday sale to bring shoppers into its Maine Mall store in December.

Despite the worries by retailers, Smith of the Kittery Outlet Association said high-end clothing companies like Coldwater Creek, J. Jill and Anne Klein “have seen no decline in traffic. Sales are very strong.”

But the National Retail Federation cautions that while bargains draw crowds, the discounts may result in lower revenues from previous years.

In addition, analysts still predict a weak sales year in retail. They point to rising energy prices, a national real estate slump and tightening credit by lenders.

Analysts are unsure if the early enthusiasm by shoppers eager for bargains will last through the rest of the year.

Weekend sales after Thanksgiving make up 8 percent of overall holiday sales. But a strong turnout by shoppers can set a positive tone through Christmas.

Fleshner of the Maine Mall said bargains combined with mall festivities bring shoppers out in droves to the state’s largest mall. Consumers want good deals and entertainment, she said.

Sally Leblanc and Linda Doucet drove from New Brunswick, Canada, to stay at an area hotel and take advantage of the holiday sales at the Maine Mall.

“This is the first year we’ve done this,” said Leblanc. “And we’re having a great time.”

The women noted that energy prices are even higher in Canada, prompting the pair to buy fuel for their vehicles after they crossed into the U.S.

Just like Americans, Leblanc said, Canadian consumers are eager to shop and enjoy the holiday season, despite a difficult economy.

“We’re paying over $4 for a gallon of gas in Canada,” she said. “Gas and heating prices are going up every week. But people still want to shop.”