Despite severe weather, high unemployment and tight credit, holiday shoppers spent slightly more this season, according to new data.
Retail sales rose 3.6 percent from Nov. 1 through Dec. 24, compared with a 2.3 percent drop a year ago, according to MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse. SpendingPulse tracks all forms of payment, including cash.
When adjusted for an extra shopping day between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, the increase was closer to 1 percent, according to SpendingPulse.
Online sales saw a big increase the weekend before Christmas, rising 15.5 percent on the season. Online sales, make up less than 10 percent of all retail sales, however.
