Latest Holiday spending News
Target, like other retailers, did not have a Merry Christmas
Target reported a rare shortfall in holiday sales, raising concerns about the challenges ahead for the traditional retail industry even as the economy remains strong. Target's disappointing growth of 1.4% percent for November and December, dragged down by toys and electronics, fell well below the previous year....
Citigroup profits rise 15%, helped by trading like JPMorgan
NEW YORK (AP) — Citigroup's fourth-quarter profits rose by 15%, as the banking conglomerate benefited from a boost in trading similar to competitor JPMorgan Chase. The New York-based bank said Tuesday that it earned a profit of $4.98 billion, or $2.15 per share, compared with a profit of $4.3 billion, or...
Atlanta Hawks' Young cancels $1M in medical debt for locals
ATLANTA (AP) — The holiday season is over but Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young still had some charity gift giving in mind: wiping out medical debt for hundreds of the city's residents. The 21-year-old star donated $10,000 to a medical debt erasure agency which relieved over $1 million in debt for those...
Macy's closing stores despite upbeat holiday sales numbers
NEW YORK (AP) — Macy's is closing 29 stores in coming weeks despite the company reporting some improvement in comparable-stores sales during the crucial holiday shopping season. In an email to The Associated Press, the Cincinnati-based retailer said the store closures include 28 Macy’s locations...
Company fires worker who criticized holiday gift via Twitter
WINONA, Minn. (AP) — A man who complained on social media about his company's holiday gift — barbecue sauce and a grill scraper — wound up getting fired for it. The man, a Canadian branch manager for Minnesota company Fastenal, was dismissed just before New Year's Day after he posted a tweet...
Online sales make up a larger portion of overall sales again
NEW YORK (AP) — More people did their shopping online this year during one of the shortest holiday shopping seasons in years, helping to push total sales higher. Retail sales in the U.S. rose 3.4% between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24 compared with last year, according to early data from Mastercard SpendingPulse....
On the Money: Tips to make the best of post-holiday shopping
NEW YORK (AP) — Holiday shopping doesn’t end with Christmas. Shoppers can take advantage of fatter discounts on clothing, home decor and other items between Christmas and well into January. In fact, a National Retail Federation survey of nearly 8,000 adults conducted Nov. 27 through Dec. 5 found...
Operation Holiday Express brings gifts to US troops in Syria
SHADDADEH, Syria (AP) — Hundreds of American troops based in Syria have received Christmas gifts thanks to Operation Holiday Express, launched by U.S.-led coalition forces from across the border in neighboring Iraq. This year, Santa's sleigh and reindeer were apparently swapped for a workhorse CH-47...
Anonymous donations pay off $70K in layaway purchases
ANNISTON, Ala. (AP) — Walmart shoppers in Alabama got a happy holiday surprise when donations paid off $70,000 in layaway purchases at two stores, the company said Friday. Someone paid off $45,000 in purchases at a store in the east Alabama city of Anniston on Monday, according to Casey Staheli, a...
Holiday shopping off to slow start, US retail sales up 0.2%
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. retail sales rose at a modest pace in November as the holiday shopping season appeared to have a slow start. The Commerce Department said Friday that retail sales increased a seasonally adjusted 0.2% in November, down from 0.4% in the previous month. Healthy car sales lifted the...
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