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First Reports: U.S. Retail Sales Grew 8.5% This Holiday Season, Led By Jewelry And Clothing December 27, 2021 (0 comments)

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New York, NY—Jewelry was one of the top two categories for holiday gift giving this year, according to data from Mastercard SpendingPulseTM. Whether consumers were shopping for themselves or for loved ones, the jewelry sector experienced some of the strongest year-on-year and year-over-two-year growth. Mastercard SpendingPulse measures in-store and online retail sales across all forms of payment.

In total, SpendingPulse preliminary insights say holiday retail sales excluding automotive increased 8.5% year-over-year this holiday season from November 1 through December 24. Notably, online sales grew 11.0% compared to the same period last year. 

“Shoppers were eager to secure their gifts ahead of the retail rush, with conversations surrounding supply chain and labor supply issues sending consumers online and to stores in droves,” said Steve Sadove, senior advisor for Mastercard and former CEO and chairman of Saks Incorporated. “Consumers splurged throughout the season, with apparel and department stores experiencing strong growth as shoppers sought to put their best-dressed foot forward.”

Findings from Mastercard SpendingPulse underscore the strength of the holiday shopper across channels, with consumers returning to stores (+8.1% YOY), and e-commerce continuing to expand (+11.0% YOY). Additional key findings include:

MasterCard says jewelry sales increased 32% year-on-year over 2020. Correspondingly, The Centurion’s spot-check surveys of better jewelers throughout the season show a consistent majority are experiencing sales gains over 10%. Retailers, please click here to take The Centurion’s final sales survey of the year, covering both the full holiday season and total results for 2021. Responses are kept confidential and reported only in the aggregate.

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