The day after Christmas 2010 might have been the biggest shopping season ever. People having rediscovered the appetite for retail shopping, rushed to the stores to buy, not to return already bought items. Forget the returns line.
The revenue for this holiday season has been tracked to be the highest rate since 2006 amidst an uncertain economy and an improved thrifty habits among the buyers. The total spending for November and December, 2010 is more than the sale for 2007 which was the best on record.
Shoppers spent more on their family and friends. They also treated themselves, and for the first time since before the Great Recession, they, too, spent for their pets. The blizzard in the East Coast after Christmas did not prevent the shoppers from going to stores. Their mood was strong as they headed to stores armed with gift cards and coupons offering them discounts. Likewise, the mood was similar in other parts of the country.
Mall of America’s spokesman Dan Jasper reported Monday that shoppers are doing more buying and less returning this week than a year ago.
Clothing sales rose 11.2 percent. Jewelry and luxury goods showed strong single-digit gains compared with a year ago, though they’ve not returned to pre-recession levels, according to data released late Monday by MasterCard Advisors.
From reports by ANNE D’INNOCENZIO
