German Retailers Report Mixed Results for Christmas Shopping Season

Retailers see a boost from gift card redemptions and post-holiday sales, but challenges like inflation and global uncertainty temper overall performance.

• Gift cards and cash gifts remain central to post-Christmas shopping, with many consumers redeeming them during the final days of the season.
• Retailers anticipate a significant portion of holiday revenue will come between Christmas and New Year's Eve, as shoppers take advantage of winter sales and promotions.
• The overall Christmas shopping season showed a nominal 1.3% revenue increase compared to last year, but inflation-adjusted growth remains modest.
• Sectors like cosmetics, books, and toys performed well, while fashion retailers faced challenges due to unseasonably warm weather in early December.
• The importance of the Christmas shopping season has gradually diminished over the years, with consumers spreading large purchases across other occasions like birthdays.

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