A report said 33 fashion retailers offered heavy discount compared to the same period last Christmas. Apparel retailers are expected to give heavy discounts as late-buyers for Christmas did not turn out to be strong enough.
Sales rose 16.9 percent for this week compared to prior week. Sales had risen 2.1 percent for the same period last year. But the buying wasn't strong enough to make up for the sales' shortfall earlier in the season.
The average weekly gain for December sales is up 2.8 percent; 4.5 percent increase has been forecast.
"This isn't champagne popping for sure, but it is getting closer to expectations," said Bill Martin, co-founder of ShopperTrak.
The dull sales of the weekend before December 25th is due to this Christmas eve being a Saturday as it allows consumers to further delay shopping.
A retail analyst opines that it doesn't surprise him the past weekend's shopping being dull but he thinks the business is going to spread out as a last-minute holiday buying is also on the cards due to a late Hanukkah on December 25th.
A week before Christmas accounted for 19 percent sales last year. The week after Christmas made up 10.3 percent of the holiday season's total business.
Consumers said they spent $18.6 billion, during the first six weeks ended Dec 9.
Visitors to jewelry and luxury goods sites grew 39 percent, faster than any Internet category in November. Coach.com topped with 2.71 million visitors, and zales.com, with 1.72 million visitors.
marketing@alchempro.com
