Every retail holiday season since the pandemic has been unique, which is the case again this year, National Retail Federation (NRF) Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said on Wednesday.
“The last few holiday shopping seasons have been filled with unmatched peculiarities for consumers and retailers alike,” said Kleinhenz.
In 2020, holiday sales surged 9.1 percent year-over-year despite the challenges from COVID-19, with a move to shop online as the U.S. sheltered at home. Sharply rising demand overcame supply chain bottlenecks for a record growth rate of 12.7 percent in 2021. Holiday sales in 2022 rose 5.4 percent as the savings consumers built up during the pandemic gave them a buffer from rising inflation, with online shopping continuing but with more consumers returning to in-store shopping.
“This year, a whole new set of dynamics is in place,” Kleinhenz explained. “The average household remains on relatively solid financial footing despite pressures from still-high inflation, stringent credit conditions and elevated interest rates. Recent revisions to government data indicate that consumers haven’t drawn down as much of their pandemic savings as believed earlier, and savings are still providing a buffer to support spending. The overall story for this holiday season is that it looks very good.”
Kleinhenz’s comments came in the November issue of NRF’s Monthly Economic Review, which provided more details on the reasons behind its Holiday Retail Sales Forecast published last week.
The NRF expects record spending during the 2023 holiday season (defined as November 1 through December 31) and forecasted retail sales to increase between 3 percent and 4 percent over 2022 to between $957.3 billion and $966.6 billion. The growth rate is consistent with the average annual increase of 3.6 percent from 2010 to 2019. The projected total sales, excluding auto dealers, gas stations and restaurants to focus on core retail, could top the $929.5 billion set last year.
“While there is significant uncertainty surrounding the measurement of how well the economy is performing, it continues to move forward and defy recession predictions, proving it to be more resilient than anticipated,” Kleinhenz said. “I expect the recent rhythm of spending will continue into the holiday season and that consumers will continue to spend on a range of items and experiences but at a slower pace. Households are starting the season in decent financial shape and are managing the constraints of their paychecks amid higher interest rates and higher monthly financial obligations as they seek to maintain their mode of living.”
Kleinhenz said there has been “a disconnect between solid consumer spending and weak consumer confidence,” with shoppers spending more despite worries about inflation, high interest rates and political stress.
The consumer sector has been “remarkably resilient” this year even though spending has been uneven, with growth rates rising at a “brisk pace” in the first quarter only to slow in the second and become “quite strong” in the third with another slowdown expected in the fourth.
Fueling increased spending is the continued wage and job growth. Kleinhenz said job gains have “slowed but not tumbled,” with payrolls climbing by 150,000 positions in October and the three-month moving average at 204,000 despite downward revisions for August and September. Credit card use has been on the upswing, but households’ ability to pay their bills is in line with pre-pandemic levels.
There has been a shift in spending from goods to services that could affect holiday retail sales as consumers who stayed home during the pandemic are venturing out again for travel, entertainment and restaurant dining. But Kleinhenz said consumers often prioritize holiday spending and may even reduce purchases earlier to safeguard their ability to spend during November and December celebrations.
Photo courtesy Saks
