Holiday sales growth topped forecast
US retail sales at stores and online surged to $886.7 billion in November and December, a 14.1% jump from the same period in 2020, according to a report from NRF, which had forecast growth of as much as 11.5% for holiday retail sales. “Despite supply chain problems, rising inflation, labor shortages and the Omicron variant, retailers delivered a positive holiday experience to pandemic-fatigued consumers and their families,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said.