Neiman Marcus gets frugal for the holidays

A retailer whose name is perhaps antithetical to the concept of frugality is getting a little bit thriftier with its 83rd annual gift catalog.

According to a report in USA Today, the new Neiman Marcus catalog is a reflection of the times, with nearly half of the items coming in at under $250. In years past, products at that price level represented no more than 30 to 40 percent of the catalog.

Some of the budget-conscious (but still luxurious) items include $75 stockings, $100 slippers and $175 iPhone cases.

On the whole, though, it's hard to refer to the catalog as "frugal" with a straight face: The book also contains an aircraft for two that costs a quarter of a million dollars.