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This holiday season started out slow, but a surge of online orders and last-minute shopping looks set to make this year’s sales the best in a long time.
Estimates from research firms suggest sales from Nov. 1 to the end of December could grow by 4.9%, above the initial estimate of 4.1%, making this the best year for holiday sales since 2005, the Wall Street Journal reports. Experts say the boost may stem from higher wages, rising stocks and lower gas and food prices.
Much of that growth came at the expense of brick-and-mortar retailers, with online sales projected to grow between 15% and 19% this year. [WSJ]
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