U.S. Retail Sales Smash Expectations As Holiday Shopping Ramps Up

[mystery-ak]

U.S. Retail Sales Smash Expectations As Holiday Shopping Ramps Up

John Carney 14 Dec 2023

Tis the season to be merrily shopping.

Overall retail sales rose 0.3 percent in November compared with the prior month, the Commerce Department said Thursday. Economists had forecast a decline from the month before.

Sales in November were 4.1 percent from a year earlier, outpacing inflation. The retail sales figures are seasonally adjusted to take account of the holiday shopping rush but not adjusted for changes in prices. The consumer price index rose 3.1 percent from a year ago, the Labor Department said this week.

Gasoline prices fell six percent in November, according to the consumer price index. Sales at gas stations fell 2.9 percent in November.

Excluding gas stations, retail sales rose 0.6 percent last month from October, an acceleration from the 0.1 percent increase in the prior month. Sales are up 5.4 percent compared with November of last year.

Retail sales account for around one-third of all consumer spending and are viewed as a window into the health of the household sector.

more
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2023/12/14/retail-sales-november-2023/

[Free Vulcan]

Which is great but how much is coming from credit card debt?

[GtHawk]

Which is great but how much is coming from credit card debt?

I think we'll find out next year with the record number of bankruptcies filed.

[libertybele]

With prices at an all time high, is there any wonder that retail sales exceeded expectations? Even with sales, I spent more than I did last year.

[LMAO]

Despite people’s economic worries, they still seem willing to spend

You can’t take your money to your great reward after death

[libertybele]

Despite people’s economic worries, they still seem willing to spend

You can’t take your money to your great reward after death

No, but you need $$ to be able to pay your rent or mortgage, electricity, water, taxes and put food on your table.  People are struggling to do just that.  Christmas presents? How many parents are putting toys for their kids on credit cards or relying on charitable organizations??

[berdie]

No, but you need $$ to be able to pay your rent or mortgage, electricity, water, taxes and put food on your table.  People are struggling to do just that.  Christmas presents? How many parents are putting toys for their kids on credit cards or relying on charitable organizations??

Absolutely true. But maybe we should go back to the "old days". I don't know about you, but when I grew up, I got one present off of my Santa list. Not enough to fill up a bedroom. It made things special.

[LMAO]

No, but you need $$ to be able to pay your rent or mortgage, electricity, water, taxes and put food on your table.  People are struggling to do just that.  Christmas presents? How many parents are putting toys for their kids on credit cards or relying on charitable organizations??

People have been abusing their credit card since the 1990s

[LMAO]

Absolutely true. But maybe we should go back to the "old days". I don't know about you, but when I grew up, I got one present off of my Santa list. Not enough to fill up a bedroom. It made things special.

When I was growing up, we each got one present a piece

The first best present  I remember getting was an 8 track stereo