Politics, extreme weather, and economic uncertainty kept many consumers from spending freely in recent months and contributed to a disappointing holiday shopping season, analysts said.
Although post-Christmas sales and gift cards could yet boost the final numbers for retailers, few analysts expect the totals to come close to earlier projections. Retailers nationwide saw sales between Oct. 30 and Dec. 24 grow by less than 1 percent compared with last year, according to MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse. The national survey tracks key holiday sales categories, such as electronics, jewelry, and furnishings as well as online sales.
Comments
thanks Obama
I trust you did your part, Beggie, and spent, spent, spent for the holidays. Remember, without massive consumption and consumer spending, capitalism will teeter and totter. Uncle Sam needs YOU, Beggie, to get out there and spend, spend, spend -- even after the holdidays. It's your patriotic duty. Especially since John "I thought this job was supposed to be ceremonial" Boehner has failed the country so miserably.