Holiday Shoppers Create Own Stimulus

Shoppers give retailers a big holiday boost
(12-25) 04:00 PST New York - -- Shoppers came back in force for the holidays, right to the very end. After two years of Recession, Christmas 2010 will go down as the moment when Americans rediscovered how much they like to shop. People spent more than expected and splurged on themselves, too, an ingredient missing for two years. Clothing such as fur vests and beaded sweaters replaced practical items like pots and pans. A strong Christmas Eve rounded out a great season for Retailers. The Nati...

Shoppers give retailers a big holiday boost
(12-24) 04:00 PST New York - -- Shoppers came back in force for the holidays, right to the very end. After two years of Recession, Christmas 2010 will go down as the moment when Americans rediscovered how much they like to shop. People spent more than expected and splurged on themselves, too, an ingredient missing for two years. Clothing such as fur vests and beaded sweaters replaced practical items like pots and pans. A strong Christmas Eve rounded out a great season for Retailers. The Nati...

Shoppers give retailers a big holiday boost
(12-25) 04:00 PST New York - -- Shoppers came back in force for the holidays, right to the very end. After two years of Recession, Christmas 2010 will go down as the moment when Americans rediscovered how much they like to shop. People spent more than expected and splurged on themselves, too, an ingredient missing for two years. Clothing such as fur vests and beaded sweaters replaced practical items like pots and pans. A strong Christmas Eve rounded out a great season for Retailers. The Nati...

Holiday 2010: The year shoppers came back
NEW YORK — Shoppers came back in force for the holidays, right to the very end. After two dreary years, Christmas 2010 will go down as the moment when Americans rediscovered how much they like to shop. People spent more than expected on family and friends and splurged on themselves, too, an ingredient missing for the past two Christmases. Clothing such as fur vests and beaded sweaters replaced practical items like pots and pans. Even the family dog is getting a little something extra. "You...

Has Christmas become too commercial?
Four Herald business reporters weigh in on the age-old debate over whether out-of-control commercialism has corrupted the spirit of the holiday — or whether shopping, wrapping and gleefully ripping open gifts has itself become a beloved tradition. ‘Commercialization’ sure beats the Big Santa alternative By Jay Fitzgerald As a youth, I could barely get to sleep on Christmas Eve because I was so wired up for one reason and one reason alone: I knew I was going to get toys the nex...

Holiday Shoppers Came Back In Force In 2010
NEW YORK — Shoppers came back in force for the holidays, right to the end. After two dreary years, Christmas 2010 will go down as the holiday Americans rediscovered how much they like to shop. People spent more than expected on family and friends and splurged on themselves, too, an ingredient missing for two years. Clothing such as fur vests and beaded sweaters replaced practical items like pots and pans. Even the family dog is getting a little something extra. "You saw joy back in the h...

Holiday 2010: The year shoppers came back
Shoppers came back in force for the holidays, right to the very end. After two years of Recession, Christmas 2010 will go down as the moment when Americans rediscovered how much they like to shop. People spent more than expected on family and friends and splurged on themselves, too, an ingredient missing for two years. Clothing such as fur vests and beaded sweaters replaced practical items like pots and pans. Even the family dog is getting a little something extra. "You saw joy back in the holid...

Christmas Eve Shoppers May Lead to Spending Record
NEW YORK - It's Black Friday, The Sequel. Stores are rolling out deals and expect to be swimming in shoppers on Christmas Eve as stragglers take advantage of a day off work. For retailers, the last-minute rush caps the best year since 2007, and possibly ever. With Christmas falling on a Saturday this year, Friday is a holiday for most U.S. workers. That lets shoppers hit the stores first thing in the morning. "I'm calling it Fantastic Friday, because I really do think it's going to be one of t...

Christmas Eve dash caps banner shopping season
In this Dec. 22, 2010 photo, a man carries a shopping bag while walking... NEW YORK (AP) - NEW YORK (AP)—Holiday procrastinators are preparing to zoom through picked-over stores, grabbing discounted sweaters and can't-go-wrong Gift Cards. If they can get a parking spot, that is. But you won't hear Retailers complaining. For stores, this 11th-hour dash caps the best Holiday Season since 2007, and possibly the best ever. With Christmas falling on a Saturday this year, Friday is a holiday for...

Christmas Eve shoppers may lead to spending record
(12-23) 18:31 PST New York (AP) -- It's Black Friday, The Sequel. Stores are rolling out deals and expect to be swimming in shoppers on Christmas Eve as stragglers take advantage of a day off work. For Retailers, the last-minute rush caps the best year since 2007, and possibly ever. With Christmas falling on a Saturday this year, Friday is a holiday for most U.S. workers. That lets shoppers hit the stores first thing in the morning. "I'm calling it Fantastic Friday, because I really do think i...

Christmas Eve Shoppers May Lead to Spending Record
NEW YORK - It's Black Friday, The Sequel. Stores are rolling out deals and expect to be swimming in shoppers on Christmas Eve as stragglers take advantage of a day off work. For Retailers, the last-minute rush caps the best year since 2007, and possibly ever. With Christmas falling on a Saturday this year, Friday is a holiday for most U.S. workers. That lets shoppers hit the stores first thing in the morning. "I'm calling it Fantastic Friday, because I really do think it's going to be one of t...

Fantastic Friday Sales May Rival Black Friday
NEW YORK (AP) — It’s Black Friday, The Sequel. Stores are rolling out deals and expect to be swimming in shoppers on Christmas Eve as stragglers take advantage of a day off work. For Retailers, the last-minute rush caps the best year since 2007, and possibly ever. With Christmas falling on a Saturday this year, Friday is a holiday for most U.S. workers. That lets shoppers hit the stores first thing in the morning. “I’m calling it Fantastic Friday, because I really do thin...

Holiday 2010: The year shoppers came back
In this Dec. 22, 2010 photo, a man carries a shopping bag while walking... NEW YORK (AP) - Shoppers came back in force for the holidays, right to the very end. After two years of Recession, Christmas 2010 will go down as the moment when Americans rediscovered how much they like to shop. People spent more than expected on family and friends and splurged on themselves, too, an ingredient missing for two years. Clothing such as fur vests and beaded sweaters replaced practical items like pots and p...

Holiday 2010: The year shoppers came back
NEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers came back in force for the holidays, right to the very end. After two years of Recession, Christmas 2010 will go down as the moment when Americans rediscovered how much they like to shop. People spent more than expected on family and friends and splurged on themselves, too, an ingredient missing for two years. Clothing such as fur vests and beaded sweaters replaced practical items like pots and pans. Even the family dog is getting a little something extra. “Y...

Online Holiday Sales Climb 15%...
Dec. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Greg Daugherty, executive editor at Consumer Reports, discusses U.S. consumer behavior during the 2010 holiday shopping season. Daugherty speaks with Margaret Brennan on Bloomberg Television's "InBusiness." (Source: Bloomberg) U.S. online sales jumped 15 percent this Holiday Season, spurred by “aggressive” marketing by Web- based Retailers, a research firm said. Online sales were $36.4 billion from Oct. 31 through Dec. 22, compared with $31.5 billion a year e...

The Christmas the shoppers came back
Shoppers came back in force for the holidays, right to the end. After two dreary years, Christmas 2010 will go down as the holiday Americans rediscovered how much they like to shop. People spent more than expected on family and friends and splurged on themselves, too, an ingredient missing for two years. Clothing such as fur vests and beaded sweaters replaced practical items like pots and pans. Even the family dog is getting a little something extra. “You saw joy back in the Holiday Season...

Christmas Eve turning into blacker Friday
The Parking Lot a Brookfield Square Mall nears capacity in the early morning hours on November 26, 2010 in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Shoppers turned out early to get in on "Black Friday" sales on the official first day of the holiday shopping season. UPI/Brian Kersey U.S. Retailers had high hopes Friday Christmas Eve would prove even better than Black Friday with some Retailers extending hours for last-minute shoppers. NPD Group dubbed the day "Fantastic Friday" and the National Retail Fe...

Holiday Shopping Reportedly Breaking Records
The AP reports: NEW YORK — It’s Black Friday, The Sequel. Stores are rolling out deals and expect to be swimming in shoppers on Christmas Eve as stragglers take advantage of a day off work. For Retailers, the last-minute rush caps the best year since 2007, and possibly ever. With Christmas falling on a Saturday this year, Friday is a holiday for most U.S. workers. That lets shoppers hit the stores first thing in the morning. “I’m calling it Fantastic Friday, because I reall...

Christmas Eve dash caps banner shopping season
NEW YORK — Holiday procrastinators packed stores Friday morning, grabbing those last few presents, Gift Cards and the finishing touches for Christmas dinner. For stores, this 11th-hour dash caps the best Holiday Season since 2007, and possibly the best ever. With Christmas falling on a Saturday this year, Friday is a holiday for most workers. That allowed shoppers to hit the stores first thing in the morning. "I’m calling it Fantastic Friday, because I really do think it’s goin...

"Fantastic Friday": Retailers Love Last-Minute Shoppers
Shoppers on the F train today (Mary Altaffer/AP) Forget Black Friday, Retailers are looking for a little Christmas miracle with last-minute Christmas shoppers hitting the stores today. The AP explains, "For stores, this 11th-hour dash caps the best Holiday Season since 2007, and possibly the best ever. With Christmas falling on a Saturday this year, Friday is a holiday for most workers. That allowed shoppers to hit the stores first thing in the morning." Burning up your cash today, celebrating...

Christmas Eve shoppers may lead to spending record
In this Dec. 22, 2010 photo, a man carries a shopping bag while walking... NEW YORK (AP) - It's Black Friday, The Sequel. Stores are rolling out deals and expect to be swimming in shoppers on Christmas Eve as stragglers take advantage of a day off work. For Retailers, the last-minute rush caps the best year since 2007, and possibly ever. With Christmas falling on a Saturday this year, Friday is a holiday for most U.S. workers. That lets shoppers hit the stores first thing in the morning. "I'm ...

Christmas Eve work shutdown to spell mobbed malls
It's Black Friday, The Sequel. Stores are rolling out deals and expect to be swimming in shoppers on Christmas Eve as stragglers take advantage of a day off work. For Retailers, the last-minute rush caps the best year since 2007, and possibly ever. With Christmas falling on a Saturday this year, Friday is a holiday for most U.S. workers. That lets shoppers hit the stores first thing in the morning. "I'm calling it Fantastic Friday, because I really do think it's going to be one of the busiest da...

Christmas Eve work shutdown to spell mobbed malls
In this Dec. 22, 2010 photo, a man carries a shopping bag while walking... NEW YORK (AP) - It's Black Friday, The Sequel. Stores are rolling out deals and expect to be swimming in shoppers on Christmas Eve as stragglers take advantage of a day off work. For Retailers, the last-minute rush caps the best year since 2007, and possibly ever. With Christmas falling on a Saturday this year, Friday is a holiday for most U.S. workers. That lets shoppers hit the stores first thing in the morning. "I'm ...

Holiday Shoppers Sprint To End; Retail Revenue Up
NEW YORK — Holiday shoppers are racing to the end of the season at a more feverish pace this year, with retail revenue up 5.5 percent during the last weekend before Christmas. The figure, released by ShopperTrak on Wednesday, is a drastic improvement from the same weekend last year, when revenue dropped 6.2 percent because a big East Coast snowstorm closed malls and kept shoppers at home. This year's improvement is especially encouraging for Retailers, for whom a big weekend all but seal...

US economy hobbles toward brighter 2011
Stumble This! WASHINGTON - Fresh data on Thursday showed the US economy limping toward the end of 2010, its fitness much improved in the last year, but with the recovery still hobbled by high Unemployment. When President Barack Obama gave an end-of-year Press Conference on Wednesday, he insisted the world's largest economy had passed "the crisis point." A slew of unemployment, Inflation, Consumer Spending and factory data on Thursday appeared to back up that assessment, but it also highli...