
Retail sales over the holiday season increased 3.8% over last year as people visited restaurants and purchased clothes and jewelry, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracks payments.
The data looked at sales from Nov. 1 to Christmas Eve. In-store sales rose 2.9% over 2023, and online sales increased 6.7%. The last five days of the season accounted for 10% of the spending, per The Associated Press. The data does not include the automotive industry.