Overview
- Holiday spending for Nov. 1 through Dec. 31 is projected to grow 3.7% to 4.2% from last year’s $976 billion.
- NRF leaders say shoppers are more price sensitive and increasingly waiting for Black Friday and other sales.
- Retailers are expected to add 265,000 to 365,000 seasonal workers, which would be the weakest level in about 15 years.
- Challenger, Gray & Christmas counts roughly 375,000 announced seasonal hires so far, the lowest November figure since tracking began in 2012.
- Inflation and higher operating costs, including tariff-related pressures, are shaping retailers’ pricing and promotion strategies.