Seems nothing can stem holiday shopping this year. According to the National Retail Federation, the numbers could exceed its own forecast for a strong season. And this is despite supply chain disruptions, inflation and the new COVID-19 omicron variant.
“Now that we’re in December, the holiday shopping season is nearing the finish line,” NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said in a statement.
“Consumers and retailers have both revised their playbooks and broken with previous traditions,” Kleinhenz added. “With the momentum we’ve seen so far likely to continue, it seems probable that we will exceed our initial projection.
NRF has predicted that holiday retail sales during November and December could now grow as much as 11.5% over the same period in 2020. That would exceed NRF’s forecast that holiday sales would be up between 8.5% and 10.5%.
The initial forecast was made in late October when late-summer growth in COVID-19 cases was still a key factor and before October retail sales data was released. October retail sales were up 10.5% year-over-year as many consumers started holiday shopping earlier than ever this year because of concerns over supply chain disruptions.
“The holiday season clearly looks to be off to a good start,” Kleinhenz said. “Consumers remain in solid financial shape and do not appear to be stretched.” With shopping starting earlier, the Thanksgiving weekend “now helps to mark off the holiday season rather than serving as the kickoff it once was.”
Kleinhenz called the COVID-19 omicron variant “the latest wildcard raising uncertainty around the economic outlook” but said it is too early to predict what impact it will have on the economy.
The first official holiday results won’t be known until the Census Bureau reports November sales on December 15. But overall consumer spending – beyond just retail sales – rose by 1.3% in October, the largest monthly increase since March, and “there was no evidence of a pullback” despite prices increases that have come with inflation caused by supply chain disruptions and increased demand.
Despite overall year-over-year inflation of 5% in October according to the Personal Consumer Expenditures Price Index, core retail categories were up only 3.3%. Over the past year, disposable personal income has been up 4.1% and spending has increased 12%.
Initial unemployment claims fell to their lowest level since 1969 the weekend before Thanksgiving, and 546,000 jobs were added to payrolls in October, followed by another 210,000 in November. In addition, the November unemployment rate fell to a new pandemic low of 4.2%. Continued strong growth rates will reduce the 4.2 million jobs needed to return employment to pre-pandemic levels, Kleinhenz said.
The increased retail sales and strong economic indicators come despite falling consumer confidence. The University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment declined to 67.4 in November, its lowest level in a decade, but Kleinhenz said spending data is a more relevant measure of consumer behavior.
