Americans ramped up spending during the holidays despite financial anxiety, higher costs
1 year ago

Americans ramped up spending during the holidays despite financial anxiety, higher costs

LA Times  

Holiday sales rose in 2023 even as shoppers deal with still stubborn inflation in some areas as well as other financial worries, according to one measure. Holiday sales rose this year and spending remained resilient during the shopping season even with Americans wrestling with higher prices in some areas and other financial worries, according to one closely watched measure. This year’s sales are more in line with what is typical during the holiday season, however, after a surge in spending last year during the same period. That’s lower than last year’s 5.4% growth but, again, more consistent with typical holiday spending, which rose 3.6% between 2010 and 2019 before the pandemic skewed numbers.

Sales Spending Americans Higher Prices Holiday Sales Holidays Despite Costs Holiday  higher  prices  spending  sales  anxiety  season  inflation  retail  rose  financial  holidays  despite  americans  costs  holiday  ramped

History of this topic

Holiday shoppers increased spending by 3.8% despite higher prices
Trending News
1 week, 6 days ago

Holiday shoppers increased spending by 3.8% despite higher prices

Associated Press  

Sales rose this year during the holiday shopping season even as Americans wrestled with elevated prices for many groceries and other necessities, according to new data. Holiday sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve climbed 3.8%, outpacing the 3.1% increase from a year earlier, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracks all kinds of payments including cash and debit …

'Shocking development': New York Times reporter reveals what is driving huge sales numbers
1 week, 6 days ago

'Shocking development': New York Times reporter reveals what is driving huge sales numbers

Raw Story  

Consumers set a massive record in holiday sales as people finally began to feel the pressure of inflation ease, New York Times business and policy reporter Lauren Hirsch told MSNBC's Jessica Layton on Thursday. This follows a number of other reports from retailers showing healthy sales — and not just the traditionally solid online stores, they noted, but, in a …

We spent more on restaurants and clothing over the holidays, Mastercard says
2 weeks ago

We spent more on restaurants and clothing over the holidays, Mastercard says

Salon  

Retail sales over the holiday season increased 3.8% over last year as people visited restaurants and purchased clothes and jewelry, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracks payments. The NRF will release a broader picture next month of how Americans are spending, with two months of statistics from the Commerce Department that show sales in November and December. Holiday shoppers planned …

Holiday spending in the US: Celebrate the season, mind your wallet
2 weeks ago

Holiday spending in the US: Celebrate the season, mind your wallet

India Today  

For Americans, Christmas cheer comes with warm spending — whether on essential giveaways for family or in charity. Like, if it suits somebody, then I'll grab it.” A Closer Look at Holiday Gifts Popular gifts include clothing, toys, gift cards, books, video games, and personal care items. Economists note that people are now “substantially less optimistic” about future business conditions …

Last-minute Christmas shopping takes a dive as buyers feel the squeeze
Trending News
2 weeks, 1 day ago

Last-minute Christmas shopping takes a dive as buyers feel the squeeze

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Last-minute Christmas shopping saw a downturn this year as high …

Retail sales rose at healthy pace last month in latest sign of U.S. economy’s health
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Retail sales rose at healthy pace last month in latest sign of U.S. economy’s health

LA Times  

Consumers stepped up their spending at retail stores last month, providing a boost to the economy in the early phases of the winter holiday shopping season. Retail sales rose 0.7% in November, the Commerce Department said Tuesday, a solid increase and higher than October’s 0.5% gain. Analysts envisioned a solid holiday shopping season, though perhaps not as robust as last …

Retailers point to solid U.S. sales over holiday weekend
1 month ago

Retailers point to solid U.S. sales over holiday weekend

Raw Story  

U.S. consumers turned out in force in stores and online over the Thanksgiving weekend, a key stretch in the holiday shopping season, a leading retailer group said Tuesday. A total of 197 million shoppers, about 59 percent of the U.S. population, made purchases during a five-day stretch that includes Black Friday and Cyber Monday, according to figures from the National …

Holiday shopping in US: Americans expected to spend nearly $1 trillion in Nov-Dec 2024
1 month, 1 week ago

Holiday shopping in US: Americans expected to spend nearly $1 trillion in Nov-Dec 2024

Live Mint  

The National Retail Federation has projected that winter holiday spending for November and December will increase by 2.5% to 3.5% over 2023. Strong holiday spending Despite a cautious consumer outlook, NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay emphasized that the economy remains fundamentally strong, providing solid support for spending growth. “The winter holidays are an important tradition to American families, and …

More deals, more spending: What Black Friday has in store
1 month, 1 week ago

More deals, more spending: What Black Friday has in store

NPR  

More deals, more spending: What Black Friday has in store toggle caption Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images This week officially kicks off the busiest shopping period of the year — it's joy and chaos for shoppers and a make-it-or-break-it season for most retailers. But that's not the whole story: A greater share of people also plan to splurge this holiday season, according …

‘If you mark it down, they will come.’ What to expect from retailers this holiday season
1 month, 2 weeks ago

‘If you mark it down, they will come.’ What to expect from retailers this holiday season

CNN  

CNN — Santa’s checking his list, elves in tow, as a model sailboat and selection of beach tees hang on the wall behind him. “The consumer has got firepower and is able to out and spend, so it’s not going to be a miserable holiday by any standards,” said Neil Saunders, retail analyst and managing director at GlobalData Retail. Bing …

US consumers to bargain hunt in annual 'Black Friday' spree
1 month, 2 weeks ago

US consumers to bargain hunt in annual 'Black Friday' spree

Deccan Chronicle  

NEW YORK: US shoppers are coming out in force this holiday season, but the festiveness is being tempered by inflationary pressures that have abated but not completely faded. Americans are "ready to open their wallets this holiday season," said the Conference Board ahead of Black Friday -- the day after Thanksgiving, which this year, falls on November 28 -- that …

Walmart earnings: Holiday shopping is off to a strong start
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Walmart earnings: Holiday shopping is off to a strong start

Live Mint  

Walmart said U.S. sales rose during the most recent quarter as shoppers bought more groceries, home goods and toys, a sign that spending is off to a steady start at the start of the holiday shopping season. The results Sales: U.S. comparable sales, those from stores and digital channels in operation for at least 12 months, rose 5.3% for the …

Americans continue to spend despite naming the economy and inflation as top election concerns
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Americans continue to spend despite naming the economy and inflation as top election concerns

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Americans stepped up their …

Retail sales up solidly in October as Americans showed continued willingness to spend
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Retail sales up solidly in October as Americans showed continued willingness to spend

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Americans stepped up their spending at retailers last month in the latest sign that healthy consumer spending is driving the economy’s steady growth. Retail sales rose 0.4% from September to October, the Commerce Department said Friday, a solid increase though less than the previous month’s robust 0.8% gain. “People may not love how much it costs to go …

Retail sales up solidly in October as Americans showed continued willingness to spend
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Retail sales up solidly in October as Americans showed continued willingness to spend

LA Times  

Americans stepped up their spending at retailers last month in the latest sign that healthy consumer spending is driving the economy’s steady growth. Retail sales rose 0.4% from September to October, the Commerce Department said Friday, a solid increase though less than the previous month’s robust 0.8% gain. Sales in some categories fell — furniture stores, clothing outlets and drug …

U.S. shoppers spent more at retailers last month in latest sign consumers are driving growth
2 months, 3 weeks ago

U.S. shoppers spent more at retailers last month in latest sign consumers are driving growth

LA Times  

Americans stepped up their purchases at retailers last month as low unemployment, steady pay gains and rising stock and home values helped sustain their willingness to spend despite higher prices. The retail sales figures aren’t adjusted for inflation, and the prices of goods fell slightly last month. Thursday’s retail sales report arrives amid expectations for a solid holiday shopping season, …

Early Bird Shopping: As Retailers Embrace Festive Decor, Flavors and Deals, Consumers Embrace the Season Earlier
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Early Bird Shopping: As Retailers Embrace Festive Decor, Flavors and Deals, Consumers Embrace the Season Earlier

Hindustan Times  

Shoppers embrace early holiday spirit as retailers push seasonal products earlier in the year. With Thanksgiving and Christmas falling on Nov. 28 and Nov. 1 respectively, retailers are bringing out their festive collections weeks before the traditional start of the holiday shopping season. This year, with inflation-weary shoppers seeking deals on non-traditional items, stores are scrambling to get shoppers to …

U.S. shoppers sharply boosted spending at retailers in July despite higher prices
4 months, 3 weeks ago

U.S. shoppers sharply boosted spending at retailers in July despite higher prices

LA Times  

Americans stepped up their spending at retailers last month by the most in a year and a half, easing concerns that the economy might be weakening under the pressure of higher prices and elevated interest rates. The Commerce Department reported Thursday that retail sales jumped 1% from June to July, the biggest such increase since January 2023, after having declined …

Discounting is back in fashion, as Americans get tired of paying more
7 months, 1 week ago

Discounting is back in fashion, as Americans get tired of paying more

NPR  

Discounting is back in fashion, as Americans get tired of paying more toggle caption Scott Olson/Getty Images After two years of paying more for things, Americans are growing more cautious about how they spend their money and are forcing retailers to offer more discounts. “It’s a cautious consumer,” said CEO Todd Vasos, describing Dollar General's typical shopper. That newfound caution …

America’s economy slowed—it probably won’t stumble
10 months, 3 weeks ago

America’s economy slowed—it probably won’t stumble

Live Mint  

The U.S. economy took a breather in January following brisk growth at the end of last year, but it remains fundamentally healthy. Technical issues with how the retail sales data was seasonally adjusted might have weighed on the reading, and cold weather in January likely had an impact on both retail sales and industrial production. Within the retail sales report, …

Retail sales up strongly in December as Americans showed continued willingness to spend
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Retail sales up strongly in December as Americans showed continued willingness to spend

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Americans stepped up their spending at retailers in December, closing out the holiday shopping season and the year on an upbeat tone and signaling that people remain confident enough to keep spending freely. Higher energy and housing prices boosted overall U.S. inflation in December, a sign that the Federal Reserve’s drive to slow inflation to its 2% …

Holiday spending is up. Shoppers are confident, but not giddy
1 year ago

Holiday spending is up. Shoppers are confident, but not giddy

NPR  

Holiday spending is up. Shoppers are confident, but not giddy Enlarge this image toggle caption Brandon Bell/Getty Images Brandon Bell/Getty Images Retail spending in the 2023 holiday season rose just over 3% year-over-year, marking a return to pre-pandemic consumer spending trends even as credit card debt is on the rise and federal student loan payments have kicked back in. Sponsor …

Americans ramped up spending during the holidays despite some financial anxiety and higher costs
1 year ago

Americans ramped up spending during the holidays despite some financial anxiety and higher costs

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Holiday sales rose this year and spending remained resilient during the shopping season even with Americans wrestling with higher prices in some areas and other financial worries, according to the latest measure. This year’s sales are more in line with what is typical during the holiday season, however, after a surge in spending last year during the …

Still haven't bought holiday gifts? Retailers have a sale for you
1 year ago

Still haven't bought holiday gifts? Retailers have a sale for you

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “I think this is a more challenging year than …

Still haven’t bought holiday gifts? Retailers have a sale for you
1 year ago

Still haven’t bought holiday gifts? Retailers have a sale for you

LA Times  

Super Saturday is expected to be the second busiest day of the holiday period after Black Friday. That’s lower than last year’s 5.4% growth but more consistent with typical holiday spending, which rose 3.6% between 2010 and 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic skewered numbers. Adobe Analytics expects U.S. online holiday sales to rise 4.8% from last year between November and …

Retail sales rise 0.3% in November as Americans hit gas, not brakes on shopping, travel, restaurants
1 year ago

Retail sales rise 0.3% in November as Americans hit gas, not brakes on shopping, travel, restaurants

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Americans picked up their spending from October to November unexpectedly as the unofficial holiday season kicked off, underscoring the power of shoppers despite elevated prices. “While consumers continue to face hurdles from higher borrowing costs, tighter credit conditions and elevated prices, a still-strong labor market, a positive trend in incomes and an easing in price pressures should …

Retail sales rise 0.3% in November as Americans hit gas rather than brakes on spending
1 year ago

Retail sales rise 0.3% in November as Americans hit gas rather than brakes on spending

LA Times  

Despite elevated prices, consumers kicked off the holiday shopping season by keeping up their spending momentum, according to Commerce Department data released Thursday. Americans unexpectedly picked up their spending from October to November as the unofficial holiday season kicked off, underscoring the power of shoppers despite elevated prices. Yet the National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, still …

Black Friday deals this year did not get American customers to shop much
1 year, 1 month ago

Black Friday deals this year did not get American customers to shop much

Live Mint  

It’s not just you. Walmart chief financial officer John David Rainey told investors in an earnings call earlier this month that the company saw a “sharper falloff" in consumer spending toward the end of October. That caution echoed throughout recent earnings reports from retailers ranging from Lowe’s Inc. to Target Corp. Consumers continued to spend this weekend, but they weren’t …

Retailers are ready to kick off Black Friday just as shoppers pull back on spending
1 year, 1 month ago

Retailers are ready to kick off Black Friday just as shoppers pull back on spending

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Retailers are kicking off the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season on Friday with a bevy of discounts and other enticements. “I don’t think is going to be some horrible business nor is it going to be some kind of explosive holiday season.” The National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, expects shoppers will …

Retailers expecting 'record' Black Friday sales, but Westpac warns of 'penny-pinching' Christmas
1 year, 1 month ago

Retailers expecting 'record' Black Friday sales, but Westpac warns of 'penny-pinching' Christmas

ABC  

Despite high levels of pessimism among Australian consumers, David Wall has noticed a lot of people are buying board games and puzzles at his toy stores ahead of the Black Friday sales. "While we expect overall Christmas trading will be subdued, we're expecting this by Friday to be a record simply because people are shopping on a budget, and they're …

Behind Black Friday’s crowds lie stories of consumers squeezed by inflation
1 year, 1 month ago

Behind Black Friday’s crowds lie stories of consumers squeezed by inflation

LA Times  

Months of punishing inflation have pushed East Hollywood resident Diane Roque to economize by canceling her family’s cable subscription and prioritizing cooking at home. “Now it’s very online-focused, and we’re really looking to see the online velocity surge on the major days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday,” said Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights. “They’re stretching out …

Roll your eyes, but Black Friday's still got it. So here's what to look for
1 year, 1 month ago

Roll your eyes, but Black Friday's still got it. So here's what to look for

NPR  

Roll your eyes, but Black Friday's still got it. But nearly 1 in 5 Americans still plan to do "most of their shopping" on Black Friday, according to a survey by the accounting and consulting firm PwC. And in a throwback to analog times, half of these shoppers actually said they planned to chase doorbusters, telling a Deloitte survey that …

Retail sales slip in October as consumers pull back after summer splurges
1 year, 1 month ago

Retail sales slip in October as consumers pull back after summer splurges

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Americans cut back on retail spending in October, ending six straight months of gains, though the decline was partly driven by falling prices for both gasoline and cars. Retail sales fell 0.1% last month after jumping a strong 0.9% in September, according to a report released Wednesday by the Commerce Department. Most retail categories reported a drop …

After a summer of splurging, Americans start to pull back on spending
1 year, 1 month ago

After a summer of splurging, Americans start to pull back on spending

LA Times  

A customer browses the holiday lights at a store in Charlotte, N.C. Economists forecast a slowdown in consumer spending in the final three months of the year, as credit card debt and deliquencies rise, and average savings fall. Consumer spending jumped in the July-September quarter, but economists forecast it will slow in the final three months of the year, as …

Retail trade group: holiday sales expected to slow to 3% to 4%, compared with 5.4% growth a year ago
1 year, 2 months ago

Retail trade group: holiday sales expected to slow to 3% to 4%, compared with 5.4% growth a year ago

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, expects shoppers will spend more this year than last year, but their spending pace will slow given all the economic uncertainty. The group forecast Thursday that U.S. holiday sales will rise 3% to 4% for November through December, compared with a 5.4% growth of a year ago. …

Shoppers’ holiday spending is expected to top $957 billion, a record amount
1 year, 2 months ago

Shoppers’ holiday spending is expected to top $957 billion, a record amount

LA Times  

Customers shop at a Nathan & Co. store in Oakland in 2022. This year’s holiday spending is expected to beat last year’s record spending of $929.5 billion. The National Retail Federation, an industry trade group, said holiday spending is forecast to reach record levels this year — up 3% to 4% from last year. Business Despite higher prices, American shoppers …

Retail sales rise solid 0.7% in September, reflecting US shoppers’ resilience despite higher prices
1 year, 2 months ago

Retail sales rise solid 0.7% in September, reflecting US shoppers’ resilience despite higher prices

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Americans showed their steadfast resilience and kept spending online, at restaurants and other outlets in September even as they grappled with higher prices, rising interest rates and a host of other headwinds piling up. Tuesday’s sales figures aren’t adjusted for inflation, but the cost of goods barely rose last month, so the increased spending isn’t a reflection …

Despite higher prices, American shoppers keep spending
1 year, 2 months ago

Despite higher prices, American shoppers keep spending

LA Times  

A man looks at the Apple’s new iPhone 15 models last month in Los Angeles. A closely watched category of retail sales that excludes auto dealers, gas stations and building materials and feeds into the gross domestic product jumped 0.6% last month compared to the prior month. “Fed officials have another rate hike this year up on their forecast board, …

Why Americans may spend $12bn on Halloween in 2023
1 year, 2 months ago

Why Americans may spend $12bn on Halloween in 2023

BBC  

Why Americans may spend $12bn on Halloween in 2023 Consumers love to spend big during spooky season. Getty Images Consumers are still willing to spend on "ritual artefacts", like costumes, even when the economy is tight But Halloween celebrants today, regardless of their religious convictions, buy into Halloween for another reason: familiarity. Home Depot's 12-foot skeleton – known popularly as …

Three in 10 people have already started Christmas shopping – survey
1 year, 3 months ago

Three in 10 people have already started Christmas shopping – survey

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Three in 10 adults who …

Consumers keep spending freely, powering a resilient economy
1 year, 4 months ago

Consumers keep spending freely, powering a resilient economy

LA Times  

Items are displayed in a boutique along Tennyson Street in Denver. Americans increased their purchases at retailers last month — for clothing, dining out, online goods and other items — in a sign that solid consumer spending is still powering a resilient U.S. economy. Analysts noted that spending on Amazon Prime Day, the online juggernaut’s big two-day sales event that …

Americans bump up spending in June as inflation eases in a strong jobs market
1 year, 5 months ago

Americans bump up spending in June as inflation eases in a strong jobs market

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Americans increased their spending last month as inflation eased in many areas, and the job market remained remarkably strong. That gave companies “abnormal power to push up prices’’ and pass higher costs along to consumers – clout they hadn’t had for decades, Simon MacAdam, senior global economist at Capital Economics, wrote last month. Conagra Brands, which makes …

Retail sales dip 0.4% in February after buying burst in Jan.
1 year, 9 months ago

Retail sales dip 0.4% in February after buying burst in Jan.

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — America’s consumers trimmed their spending in February after a buying burst in January, underscoring the volatility of the economic environment. Still, it remains to be seen whether news coverage of bank failures and stock market gyrations will hurt consumer sentiment this month, writes Capital Economics’ Deputy Chief U.S Economist Andrew Hunter in a report issued Wednesday. The …

The unexpected American shopping spree seems to have cooled
1 year, 9 months ago

The unexpected American shopping spree seems to have cooled

NPR  

The unexpected American shopping spree seems to have cooled Enlarge this image toggle caption Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images An unexpected spending spree by U.S. shoppers seems to have calmed. Sponsor Message Inflation has been moderating since peaking last summer, but consumer prices in February were still 6% higher than a year ago, data showed …

Americans keep spending, defying inflation and interest rate hikes
1 year, 10 months ago

Americans keep spending, defying inflation and interest rate hikes

LA Times  

Shoppers pass a large L.L. America’s consumers rebounded last month from a weak holiday shopping season by boosting their spending at stores and restaurants at the fastest pace in nearly two years, underscoring the economy’s resilience in the face of higher prices and multiple interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. Wednesday’s robust retail sales figures, along with a strong …

Retailers suffer disappointing January as consumers brace for more bill rises
1 year, 11 months ago

Retailers suffer disappointing January as consumers brace for more bill rises

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Many retailers discounted heavily to entice consumer spend, and while there were bargains to …

Australian retailers had a worse-than-expected Christmas as cost of living pressures bite
1 year, 11 months ago

Australian retailers had a worse-than-expected Christmas as cost of living pressures bite

ABC  

There are clearer signs that consumers are feeling the pain of high inflation and successive interest rate hikes as Australian retailers have posted their first drop in sales in almost a year. Key points: Retail turnover in fell 3.9 per cent in December Turnover rose 7.5 per cent, compared to December 2021 Markets have priced in an 84 per cent …

December retail sales fall 1.1% as inflation takes a toll
1 year, 11 months ago

December retail sales fall 1.1% as inflation takes a toll

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Americans cut back on spending in December, the second consecutive month they’ve done so, underscoring how inflation and the rising cost of using credit cards slowed consumer activity over the crucial holiday shopping season. Retail sales fell a worse-than-expected 1.1% in December, following a revised 1% drop in November, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. In October, retail …

Retail group: Holiday sales up slower-than-expected 5.3%
1 year, 11 months ago

Retail group: Holiday sales up slower-than-expected 5.3%

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Sales for the holiday 2022 season slowed more than expected from its blistering pace a year ago as higher borrowing costs and higher inflation made shoppers pull back, according to the nation’s largest retail trade group. The National Retail Federation said Wednesday that holiday sales for the combined November and December period rose 5.3% to $936.3 billion. …

Discover Related