According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, U.S. holiday retail sales rose 3.4 percent (excl. auto) with online sales climbing 18.8 percent compared to 2018.

Key findings of the report indicate that this was a winning holiday season for retail, especially for e-commerce:

• Total Apparel recorded a 1 percent growth year over year. The category also experienced stronger than expected e-commerce advance, up 17 percent compared to 2018.
• The Jewelry sector showed a 1.8 percent gain in total retail sales, with online sales surging 8.8 percent and supporting eCommerce strength. This trend started before the holiday season and helped the sector power through to its finish.
• Department stores saw overall sales drop of 1.8 percent and online sales growth of 6.9 percent, emphasizing the importance of omnichannel offerings.
• Electronics and appliances rose 4.6 percent, while the home furniture and furnishings category increased 1.3 percent.