Retailers Strong this Holiday Season

By Lucy Mitchell
Dec 20 2010

The annual retail forecast was released by the US Commerce Department this morning and the numbers are better than anyone could have expected.

According to the latest figures, retailers have done more this year than in the past 7 years that were reported to the department. As such the stock prices for most retailers, the companies continue to use sales to attract more customers.

Retailers have said that they are planning to run their sales all the way through to Christmas Eve, hoping to continue their record-breaking sales year. The retailers will then spend the rest of the season operating in the black for the first time in a twelve month period.

Early reports had shown that the numbers may have been well below the first forecasts. But the reporting figures were calculated after the first week of December and the Commerce Department discovered that they were continuing to rise.

Still there are a few more days before the holidays have ended. In January a whole new reporting period begins and retailer losses are expected to be higher with the returns. This will challenge the way that many think about the industry with the high stock prices that will start to dip after the first of the year.

Now the challenge for retailers will be to repeat this feat next year. Most are already considering  stronger sales position for the early parts of 2011 and taking advantage of those that like to shop for the holidays early.