NEW YORK (AP) — More people did their shopping online this year during one of the shortest holiday shopping seasons in years, helping to push total sales higher.
Retail sales in the U.S. rose 3.4% between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24 compared with last year, according to early data from Mastercard SpendingPulse.
Online sales rose at a faster pace, up 18.8% from last year. Online shopping made up nearly 15% of total retail sales.
Mastercard SpendingPulse tracked spending online and in stores across all payment types, including those who paid by cash or check. Sales of automobiles are not included.
Faced with the shortest holiday shopping season since 2013, stores were trumpeting deals even before Halloween with hopes of getting people to think about Christmas.
Thanksgiving landed on Nov. 28 this year, the latest possible date it could fall. That meant six fewer days than last year, forcing last-minute shoppers to scramble. The Saturday before Christmas was the busiest shopping day in U.S. history, surpassing Black Friday, according to research firm Customer Growth Partners.
Clothing sales rose 1%, Mastercard said. Jewelry sales increased 1.8%. Sales of electronics and appliances rose 4.6%. And furniture sales grew 1.3%.
Department stores, which have been hit hard by the rise of online shopping, still had trouble getting shoppers in their doors: total sales fell 1.8%, Mastercard said.
After years of price increases for cars and trucks in the United States, costs are slowing and in some cases falling, helping cool overall inflation and giving frustrated Americans more hope of finding an affordable vehicle.
Missed out on the Nvidia wave? Oh course you did — you’re reading this article aren’t you, instead of luxuriating on a white-sand beaches of Bali. But here are at least four other promising semiconductor stocks to add to your portfolio.
Fresh off a successful funding round, co-founder of Lapse Dan Silvertown shares thoughts on regulation, privacy, and why the money for great startups is still out there.
Wendy's announced they are testing out fluctuating prices throughout the day for certain products based on demand. Who will groan the most: lunch-breakers, dinner drivers or late-night goblins?
Shubha Dasgupta, CEO of Pineapple Financial, discusses incorporating artificial intelligence with its newly announced ‘Maui’ tool, plus plans for expansion.
Chair of Penn Engineering’s Department of Computer and Information Science Zachary Ives shares how the department is building its artificial intelligence degree program.
