ShopperTrak: During the 2013 holiday shopping season (Nov/Dec) national retail sales increased 2.7% y/y, foot traffic decreased 14.6% y/y
- ShopperTraks initial data indicates shoppers spent $265.9 billion during this period. The 2.7% increase is slightly better than ShopperTraks early-season forecast of a 2.4% increase in sales. The 2013 holiday season marked the fourth consecutive year with positive GAFO retail sales, reflecting a growing economy.
- ShopperTrak's Martin: "As we anticipated, retailers saw a gain in sales compared to last year as the economy continues to recover. However, consumers took a break from shopping after Thanksgiving weekend, so retailers were pressured to offer deep discounts and promotions in the final week before Christmas to finish the holiday on a positive note. In the future, retailers who promote throughout the season will be more successful than those who take a hiatus in the week or two after Thanksgiving. Promotions in early December offer retailers an opportunity to capture sales earlier without having to offer more extensive markdowns at the end of the season."