A child looks at toys in a Target store ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday and traditional Black Friday sales in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. November 21, 2023. REUTERS/Vincent Alban TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
NEW YORK (AP) — Holiday sales rose this year and spending remained resilient during the shopping season even with Americans wrestling with higher prices in some areas and other financial worries, according to the latest measure.
Holiday sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve climbed 3.1 percent, a slower pace than the 7.6 percent increase from a year earlier, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracks all kinds of payments including cash and debit cards.
This year’s sales are more in line with what is typical during the holiday season, however, after a surge in spending last year during the same period.
“This holiday season, the consumer showed up, spending in a deliberate manner” said Michelle Meyer, Chief Economist, Mastercard Economics Institute. “The economic backdrop remains favorable with healthy job creation and easing inflation pressures, empowering consumers to seek the goods and experiences they value most.”
The number of people seeking unemployment benefits has remained very low by historical standards and employers are still having a hard time finding enough…
