Despite the Economic Strain of the Pandemic, Holiday Retail Sales are Expected to Grow

 

Despite a rough economic year for everyone, retail sales during the holidays are expected to keep pace, even surpass, growth trends of previous years. According to the Associated Press, the National Retail Federation made this prediction recently to account for the uncertainty of shutdowns caused by the pandemic. For essential businesses like big-box stores, sales growth during lockdown averaged 6.4% gain while non-essential stores forced to shutter during quarantine suffered a severe drop.

MarketScale Radio explores the current state of retail and consumer spending with hosts Daniel LItwin and Tyler Kern. Litwin looks at the unemployment numbers and puzzles where consumer dollars will enter the economy. Kern considers the retail giants that have pivoted to e-commerce and delivery. Regardless, the trickle-down benefits of holiday spending may not show up in local economies due to the success of big box stores and online shopping.

KEY POINTS:

  • NRF predicts sales for the November and December period will increase between 3.6% and 5.2%
  • Big Box stores see over 6% growth in sales during COVID lockdown.
  • Lack of spending on travel and entertainment leaves some discretionary income for holiday spending.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Baker Tilly
Baker Tilly Bridges Cultures and Markets to Power U.S.–China Business Growth
November 14, 2025

Baker Tilly’s U.S.–based China practice supports Chinese enterprises operating in the United States as well as U.S. companies with Chinese-heritage leadership. Team members such as Beverly Bian, Terry Dickens, and Lucy Ni work with clients ranging from early-stage ventures to major multinational organizations navigating cross-border growth. The practice distinguishes itself through its bilingual capabilities…

Read More
construction
Empowering Excellence: How Rick Ward Elevates Southwest Construction Services
November 13, 2025

In an industry where timelines tighten and jobsite complexities grow by the day, quality assurance has become one of construction’s most defining—and differentiating—disciplines. At its core, QA isn’t just about correcting mistakes; it’s about building systems and people capable of preventing them in the first place. This is especially true in specialized sectors…

Read More
training
Empowering Teams Through a Modern Training Culture
November 13, 2025

Training may be the backbone of any skilled trade, but in waterproofing—where mistakes can compromise entire structures—it becomes a defining competitive advantage. At Southwest Construction Services, the evolution of training reflects a larger industry shift: seasoned crews now rely less on formal classroom sessions and more on hyper-focused, on-site guidance tailored to the…

Read More
quality assurance
Ensuring Excellence: How Quality Assurance Shapes Every Successful Project
November 13, 2025

In an era of rising climate volatility and tighter construction tolerances, waterproofing has quietly become one of the most consequential guardians of a building’s long-term health. Too often, the industry treats it as an afterthought—something buried behind walls, beneath slabs, or under layers of finish—but the truth is that its success or failure can…

Read More