- Image by JOE MARINARO via Flickr
This is the business end of Christmas, folks. Retail goes up. People spend more money. But the reason for this report is the apparent contrast from the last Christmas season, which actually experienced a drastic dip due to fierce East Coast snowstorms that closed malls down and kept shoppers at home. Always bad for the economy! Not this year, though.
Figures from ShopperTrak show a number totaling $18.3 billion in sales during the dates of December 17 to December 19, which includes a staggering $7.58 billion on what is commonly called “Super Saturday”, the last Saturday before Christmas, by retailers and consumers alike. That’s a 3% increase over last year.
Moreover, ShopperTrak does expect retail to increase even more by 4% this holiday season, which is the general norm for acceptable and exceptional profitability in the marketplace. Last year it actually fell .4%–not so good back then. Pretty promising now. It’s an important time for the economy as most businesses actually earn a 1/3 of their income in this time of year alone! The last ten days before Christmas, especially, make up around 31-34% revenue for the WHOLE holiday season. That’s a lot of shopping, yes. Wii’s, XBOXs, Playstation 3′s, smartphones, Blu-Rays, LCDs, laptops, desktops, you name it. People are buying it.
That may be wonderfully good news for the economy now that spending has increased. Retailers are applauding at the numbers, thinking the economical recovery is finally picking up some pace. Only time will tell. Till then, pick up your wallet, head to the nearest mall, and investigate the consumerist stimulation of pulling out the plastic and presidential flashcards for the purpose of kick-starting the financial road warrior called Christmas.
Amen, alleluia, let us spend cash! Pray for the wrapping paper as well, for all need the ribbons and bows to delight in little children ripping them to shreds. Merry Christmas, everyone!
