My other thought is folks may be thinking about finding time to finish up holiday projects - I know I am. The next few months seem to be my "crazy time" when I realize how over-commited I have made myself.
That was my thought as well! Plus in my family everyone's birthday falls in between mid-September to end of November as well. So this time of year is always the busiest (and most expensive! ) time of the year, present-giving-wise.