It will still be a few weeks before concrete data shows up for the holiday shopping season, but early results are looking good in Oak Park.

The Downtown Oak Park business association is reporting a more than 60 percent increase in gift certificate sales since last holiday season. About $42,000 in gift certificates, which can be redeemed at more than 75 local retailers, were sold last year.

“It was a very unusual Christmas,” said Pat Zubak, executive director of Downtown Oak Park. “We have been around $22,000 to $25,000 for years, at least as far back as we can pretty much see.”

Zubak said retailers reported more traffic and higher sales on smaller items, like add-ons and stocking stuffers. Some local retailers reported a slight increase overall since last year, but are still behind 2007, the last holiday shopping season before the economic collapse.

Another indicator of the strength of the shopping season will be the group’s receipt redemption program, in which shoppers can get a $50 gift certificate if they spend at least $25 at seven different stores, with total purchases more than $400. Those figures are expected next month.