Holiday retail sales rose 3% as more people bought decor and furniture for their homes

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Surprisingly, furniture and home improvement items were big sellers this holiday season, contributing to a 3% increase in retail sales during this year’s extended holiday shopping season, according to a report by MasterCard (ME) SpendingPulse.

Also, online shopping sales increased by 49% between October 11 and December 24, further highlighting how the Covid-19 pandemic reshaped shopping habits.

The longer-than-average holiday season, which began late with Amazon Prime Day, was marked by a number of retailers offering special offers and promotions to encourage customers to shop earlier to guarantee deliveries. holiday time.

But the increase in retailers in the benefits of shopping and shipping has led to a decrease in last-minute buyers compared to the previous year, the report shows, with online shopping sales accounting for 19.7% of total retail sales. And Black Friday, an unofficial foundation stone holiday marked with unprecedented offerings, landed as the best day of the season.

The increase in sales and shopping data was “a testament to the holiday season and the power of retailers and consumers alike,” said Steve Sadove, senior advisor for Mastercard and former CEO and president of Saks Incorporated, in a statement. statement.

“American consumers have turned their heads to the holiday season, redefining the ‘holiday home’ in a unique 2020 way. They have bought from home to home, leading to record e-commerce growth,” Sadove said.

Meanwhile, department stores and clothing brands saw sales decline by 10.2% year-on-year and 19.1%, respectively, according to the Mastercard report. This is because many stores have been crushed by a lot of debt and the changing shopping trends caused by the pandemic. About 30 retailers and restaurant chains were forced to file for bankruptcy.

Despite this, retail offers, including boarding and online shopping, have led to an incremental increase in e-commerce sales. Clothing sales increased by 15.7%, and store sales increased by 3.3%, coming at a time when more shoppers focused their attention and shopping decisions on their homes. Furniture and furniture sales increased by 6.2%, while housing improvement spending increased by 14.1%, the report said. Electronics and home appliance sales also followed suit, rising by 6%.

Holiday shopping shields highlight how the impact of the pandemic on external activities has prompted shoppers to make more indoor and longer-term purchases at home.

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