The National Retail Federation said preliminary 2009 holiday sales, which combine the full months of November and December, rose 1.1% to $446.8 billion, surpassing NRF's projected decline of 1.0%. For December, retail sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) rose 2.3% unadjusted year-over-year. In December 2008, holiday sales declined 3.4%. Home furnishing sales decreased 3.5%, reflecting the weak housing market.
