Holiday Sales news and trends

Is the Luxury Slowdown Normalization or Inflation? 
Retail // January 16, 2024

There was a time last year when we heard luxury retailers say that the slowdown they were experiencing was a sign of “normalization,” but now they are warning that profits are continuing down. So, is this truly “normalization” or just inflation at its finest?  Read...

National Retail Federation Reports Higher Sales as Holiday Season Kicks Off
Retail // December 11, 2023

The National Retail Federation (NRF) says the holiday shopping season got off to a strong start. The federation’s Retail Monitor, produced in tandem in CNBC and released Monday (Dec. 11), showed retail sales making strong gains, the organization said in a news release.  “November Retail Monitor data...

Holiday ‘Sales Creep’ May Burden Inventory-Laden Retailers
Retail // August 22, 2023

Right now, the headlines and news stories detailing the deluge of holiday merchandise on retailers’ shelves are a bit whimsical. Christmas is here, is the read across – and it’s only August.  As reported in recent days by CNN and other media outlets, back to...

Amazon and Walmart Lead Retail Industry Shift to Returns and Results
Retail // January 06, 2023

While early industry-wide readings on retail sales range from record high to essentially flat if 7% inflation is factored in, fears of a fourth-quarter washout amid a glut of inventory and promotion appear to have been overblown, with pockets of strength and weakness offset by a tide of not so bad.  As PYMNTS...

Interviews & Exclusives
It’s ‘Deal or No Deal’ for Cash-Strapped Holiday Shoppers

December 06, 2022
Tight budgets are putting merchants in a bind this holiday season. Fifty-six million consumers across the United States say they are skipping holiday shopping entirely this year — even more than at the height of the pandemic in 2020 — and 19% of those who are shopping say that limited funds are forcing them to […]

2017: The Year Retail Got Its Experiential Act Together

December 12, 2017
Some things about holiday shopping trends will never change, Mastercard’s Sarah Quinlan told Karen Webster in their annual discussion of the trends to watch for the holiday season. Women in 2017 will do...

The Black Friday Recap Edition

November 27, 2017
The pre-Black Friday narrative was not entirely sunshiny, with an evolving consensus that the day – though perhaps symbolically important to consumers – is no longer quite the bellwether for...

Merchants Deck The Halls With Omnichannel This Holiday Season

December 21, 2016
The impact of omnichannel across the retail ecosystem is significant, but the 2016 holiday season is shaping up to provide a clear picture of just how impactful the influence of...

Quick Reads
Walmart Takes on Amazon With Earlier Holiday Deals Event

September 19, 2024
Walmart says it is beginning its holiday shopping offerings earlier than ever. “This year, nearly 50% of consumers will start their holiday shopping as early as August and September, as people remain price-conscious and plan ahead to maximize their holiday budgets,” the retail giant said in a Thursday (Sept. 19) news release. “To meet customers where and […]

National Retail Federation Reports Higher Sales as Holiday Season Kicks Off

December 11, 2023
The National Retail Federation (NRF) says the holiday shopping season got off to a strong start. The federation’s Retail Monitor, produced in tandem in CNBC and released Monday (Dec. 11), showed...

Shopify’s Holiday Sales Spiked 61 Pct. YOY

February 12, 2020
With holiday sales skyrocketing from 2018 to 2019, Canada’s Shopify registered quarterly earnings that exceeded expectations. The eCommerce firm notched global sales of more than $2.9 billion from Black Friday...

PSCU Reports Higher Debit, Credit Sales During Holidays

February 06, 2020
PSCU, the payments credits union service organization (CUSO), reported significantly higher year-over-year growth than expected during the holidays, with a 7.86 percent increase in debit and credit sales among its...