U.S. Holiday Retail Sales Are Strongest in Years

(The Wall Street Journal) Updated Dec. 25 2018 9:51 p.m. ET Shoppers delivered the strongest holiday sales increase for U.S. retailers in six years according to early data. Total U.S. retail sales excluding automobiles rose 5.1 between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24 from a year earlier according to Mastercard SpendingPulse which tracks both online and in-store spending with all forms of payment. Overall U.S. consumers spent over $850 billion this holiday season according to Mastercard. The figures suggest a stock-market swoon and partial government shutdown havent curbed consumer confidence and spending. Wall Street is running around like a chicken with its head cut off while Mr. and Mrs. Main Street are happy with their jobs enjoying their best wage increases in a decade" said Craig Johnson president of Customer Growth Partners a retail research and consulting firm. A recent drop in gas prices has helped last-minute spending he said.