Content about Christmas and holiday season

January 4, 2013

A Friday report by RetailNext said that its analysis of 8.5 million shopping trips to big-box and specialty retailers in the U.S. during the 2011 and 2012 holiday seasons revealed that:

San Jose, Calif. -- A Friday report by RetailNext said that its analysis of 8.5 million shopping trips to big-box and specialty retailers in the U.S. during the 2011 and 2012 holiday seasons revealed that:

January 2, 2013

The weekend before Christmas ranked as the busiest shopping period in December by in-store visits to top retailers, with Super Saturday ranking among the three busiest shopping days for Walmart, Target, Toys ‘R’ Us, Macy’s and Kohl’s, according to Placed.

Seattle -- The weekend before Christmas ranked as the busiest shopping period in December by in-store visits to top retailers, with Super Saturday ranking among the three busiest shopping days for Walmart, Target, Toys ‘R’ Us, Macy’s and Kohl’s, according to Placed.

December 28, 2012

Holiday-related sales rose 0.7% from October 28 through December 24, compared with a 2% rise last year, according to a preliminary report from MasterCard Advisors Spending Pulse.

New York City -- Holiday-related sales rose 0.7% from October 28 through December 24, compared with a 2% rise last year, according to a preliminary report from MasterCard Advisors Spending Pulse.

"It has been a very uneven industry performance, probably at least for the last year, and that certainly continued into the holiday season," said Michael Niemira, chief economist at the International Council of Shopping Centers, in a Reuters report.

December 27, 2012

Research results released by Chase found that online holiday shopping sales for the season rose 15.2% year-over-year.

New York -- Research results released Wednesday by Chase found that online holiday shopping sales for the season rose 15.2% year-over-year.

By event, the Chase Holiday Pulse reported that from Black Friday Nov. 23 through Friday, Nov. 30, year-over-year sales increased 22.5% and transactions increased 32.7%.

December 20, 2012

comScore reported that the most recent week achieved record-setting levels of online spending, eclipsing $7 billion in sales for the first time ever.

Reston, Va. -- comScore reported Thursday that the most recent week achieved record-setting levels of online spending, eclipsing $7 billion in sales for the first time ever. Four individual days surpassed $1 billion in spending, led by Green Monday at $1.275 billion.

According to comScore, holiday season retail e-commerce spending for the first 46 days of the November–December 2012 holiday season has reached $35 billion, marking a 13% increase vs. the corresponding days last year.

December 20, 2012

Shopper analytics firm Experian FootFall said that the final Saturday before Christmas – Super Saturday – could eclipse Black Friday as the top performer this holiday season.

New York -- Shopper analytics firm Experian FootFall said Thursday that the final Saturday before Christmas – Super Saturday – could eclipse Black Friday as the top performer this holiday season.

December 19, 2012

A report released by ShopperTrak revealed a downwardly revised holiday forecast indicating a 2.5% year-over-year sales increase.

Chicago -- A report released by ShopperTrak on Wednesday revealed a downwardly revised holiday forecast indicating a 2.5% year-over-year sales increase.

According to ShopperTrak, although week-over-week numbers improved, year-over-year statistics are stumbling. For the weekend ended Dec. 15, retail foot traffic rose 15.1% week-over-week, and sales increased 16.4% week-over-week.

But, in year-over-year comparisons, foot traffic declined 4.4% and sales declined 4.3%.

December 12, 2012

In a report released by comScore, Green Monday has emerged as the third heaviest online shopping day of the holiday season to date, reaching $1.275 billion in spending.

Reston, Va. -- In a report released Wednesday by comScore, Green Monday has emerged as the third heaviest online shopping day of the holiday season to date, reaching $1.275 billion in spending.

Just ahead of Green Monday are Cyber Monday at $1.465 billion and Tuesday, Dec. 4, at $1.362 billion.

For the holiday season to-date, $29.3 billion has been spent online.

December 12, 2012

A report released by Shop.org, a division of the National Retail Federation, found that retailers are in tune with the last-minute shipping intentions of the average consumer.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Wednesday by Shop.org, a division of the National Retail Federation, found that retailers are in tune with the last-minute shipping intentions of the average consumer.

According to Shop.org’s 2012 eHoliday Study conducted by BIGinsight, 45.7% of retailers will end standard shipping promotions by Monday, Dec. 17, in direct response to the average consumer’s tendency to wait until the last minute to finish holiday shopping.

December 11, 2012

For the holiday season-to-date, $26.6 billion has been spent online, up 13% versus the corresponding days last year, according to comScore.

Reston, Va. -- For the holiday season-to-date, $26.6 billion has been spent online, up 13% versus the corresponding days last year, according to comScore. The firm predicts that Green Monday (Monday, December 10, 2012) is likely to be one of the heaviest online spending days of the season and a headliner for what is expected to the busiest online spending week on record.

December 4, 2012

Retailers will lose an estimated $8.9 billion to return fraud this year, and $2.9 billion during the holiday season alone, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2012 Return Fraud Survey.

Washington, D.C. --  Retailers will lose an estimated $8.9 billion to return fraud this year, and $2.9 billion during the holiday season alone, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2012 Return Fraud Survey. Overall, retailers estimate 4.6% of holiday returns are fraudulent.

December 3, 2012

Retailers in the United States are expected to lose $8.9 billion over the holiday season as a result of shoplifting, dishonest employees and vendor or distribution losses, according to a new study released by the Centre for Retail Research.

Thorofare, N.J. -- Retailers in the United States are expected to lose $8.9 billion over the holiday season as a result of shoplifting, dishonest employees and vendor or distribution losses, according to a new study released by the Centre for Retail Research. In total, the losses could represent a 4% increase over the same period last year.

November 28, 2012

Spending on Cyber Monday reached $1.46 billion, up 17% versus a year ago, making it the heaviest online spending day in history, according to comScore.

Reston, Va. -- Spending on Cyber Monday reached $1.46 billion, up 17% versus a year ago, making it the heaviest online spending day in history, according to comScore.

Retail e-commerce spending for the first 26 days of the November-December 2012 holiday season rose to $16.4 billion, up 16% versus the corresponding days last year.

November 27, 2012

ShopperTrak reported Tuesday that it estimates retail foot traffic over the Black Weekend shopping period rose 8.2% year-over-year.

Chicago -- ShopperTrak reported Tuesday that it estimates retail foot traffic over the Black Weekend shopping period rose 8.2% year-over-year. That equates to more than 594 million store visits between Thursday and Monday.

Retail sales increased 2.7%, with shoppers spending about $22 billion across the weekend's four days. Thursday's "door-buster" deals drove sales and traffic earlier in the weekend.    

November 26, 2012

According to a report by IBM, U.S. shoppers took full advantage of early promotions this holiday season, driving a 17.4% increase in online sales Thanksgiving Day.

New York -- According to a report by IBM, U.S. shoppers took full advantage of early promotions this holiday season, driving a 17.4% increase in online sales Thanksgiving Day. This increase set the stage for 20.7% growth on Black Friday. The biggest surge came from mobile consumers, with sales reaching 16.3%, led by the iPad.

The data is the result of cloud-based analytics findings from IBM.  

Other findings of the IBM Digital Analytics Benchmark revealed the following trends:

November 26, 2012

Retailers enjoyed a strong start to the holiday season as total spending in stores and online over the Thanksgiving weekend rose 13% to $59.1 billion from $52.4 billion, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation.

Washington, D.C. -- Retailers enjoyed a strong start to the holiday season as total spending in stores and online over the Thanksgiving weekend rose 13% to $59.1 billion from $52.4 billion, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation. Last year, sales rose 16% over the holiday weekend.

November 20, 2012

Retail sales growth in the United States will rebound from the third quarter this holiday season, but will be down on the previous two years' robust gains, according to a new report by Moody's Investors Service.

New York -- Retail sales growth in the United States will rebound from the third quarter this holiday season, but will be down on the previous  two years' robust gains, according to a new report by Moody's Investors Service. The study, "Holiday Sales Will Overcome the U.S. Fiscal Policy Grinch," also finds that earnings growth will be slightly stronger.

November 20, 2012

Survey results released by CouponCabin.com revealed that that 47% of Cyber Monday shoppers will spend more money online that day than they will in-store the during the rest of the holiday season.

Whiting, Ind. -- Survey results released Tuesday by CouponCabin.com revealed that that 47% of Cyber Monday shoppers will spend more money online that day than they will in-store the during the rest of the holiday season. The holiday has gone mobile as well. More than one-quarter (29%) of smartphone and tablet owners plan to shop online on Cyber Monday on their devices.

November 15, 2012

A majority of retailers say delivering a consistent customer experience is their top priority this holiday season, according to a new survey.

Atlanta -- A majority of retailers say delivering a consistent customer experience is their top priority this holiday season, according to a new survey.

Supply chain and retail technology provider RedPrairie released results of its “Holiday Hiring Snapshot” survey of 250 big-box, specialty, grocery, convenience store and food service retailers based in the United States, finding that nearly 60% cited the importance of consistency, with 29% saying they would hire more seasonal workers this year than last year.

November 14, 2012

The National Retail Federation’s 2012 holiday consumer spending survey conducted by BIGinsight showed that 81.1% of shoppers will purchase at least one gift card and will spend an average of $156.86 on gift cards, the highest amount in the survey’s 10-year history.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation’s 2012 holiday consumer spending survey conducted by BIGinsight showed that 81.1% of shoppers will purchase at least one gift card and will spend an average of $156.86 on gift cards, the highest amount in the survey’s 10-year history. Total spending on gift cards will reach $28.79 billion.

According to NRF’s first holiday survey, released in October, six in 10 (59.8%) of those polled said they’d like to receive gift cards this year, up from 57.7% last year.

November 14, 2012

A report released by the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs found that consumers are more willing to spend this holiday season.

New York -- A report released Wednesday by the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs found that consumers are more willing to spend this holiday season.

According to the 2012 Holiday Spending Intentions Survey, 19% of consumers plan to spend more (and 5% plan to spend substantially more) on holiday gifts this year versus last year.  This is the highest percentage of consumers reporting they intend to increase spending over the previous holiday season since ICSC began asking the question in 2004.

November 14, 2012

IDC Retail Insights released a new survey report, “Business Strategy: At Hand Versus In Hand — Will Consumers Have the Upper Hand in the 2012 Holiday Showroom Showdown?,” which found that 48 million shoppers will “showroom” or use their smartphones in some manner while they shop in stores during the upcoming winter holiday season.

Framingham, Mass. -- IDC Retail Insights on Wednesday released a new survey report, “Business Strategy: At Hand Versus In Hand — Will Consumers Have the Upper Hand in the 2012 Holiday Showroom Showdown?,” which found that 48 million shoppers will “showroom” or use their smartphones in some manner while they shop in stores during the upcoming winter holiday season.

November 13, 2012

Jones Lang LaSalle released a forecast suggesting that shopping centers will be pulling out all the digital stops this holiday season to engage and interact with consumers to influence purchasing decisions.

Atlanta -- Jones Lang LaSalle released a forecast suggesting that shopping centers will be pulling out all the digital stops this holiday season to engage and interact with consumers to influence purchasing decisions.

November 12, 2012

Smartphones will be retailers’ friend this holiday season, according to Deloitte’s annual survey of spending intentions and trends.

New York -- Smartphones will be retailers’ friend this holiday season, according to Deloitte’s annual survey of spending intentions and trends.

November 5, 2012

By Bill Martin, ShopperTrak Founder

By Bill Martin, ShopperTrak Founder

The ShopperTrak holiday forecast for increased sales and foot traffic should encourage retailers. Our analysis suggests the 38 shopping days between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve — coupled with two “extra” weekends — will contribute to a strong shopping season.

To recap the forecast: