2012 Sales Off To A Good Start

Photo credit: Olivia Bucks/The Oregonian
Gift cards, redemptions and warm weather led to solid and widespread growth for January retail sales, according to two reports.

January retail industry sales (excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants) increased 0.9 percent seasonally adjusted from December and 4 percent unadjusted year-over-year, according to the National Retail Federation.

Jewelry to Lead the Way for Valentine’s Day

Jewelry is expected to be the most popular gift giving item for Valentine's Day. Montblanc Valentine’s Bead Bracelet.

Consumers are expected to spend $4.1 billion on jewelry, up from $3.5 billion last year, to lead the way for spending this Valentine’s Day, according to a recently released survey. In addition, nearly 19 percent of survey participants said they will buy jewelry this year, up

A Record-Setting Week for Online Holiday Sales

Online sales for the first full week of what is considered the true holiday shopping season grew 15 percent to a record $5.96 billion, according to comScore, a firm that measures digital data.The week from November 28 (“Cyber Monday”) to December 2 had three individual days that saw more than $1 billion in online spending, led by Cyber Monday, which was the heaviest online spending day on record

Growth and October Retail Sales and September Jewelry Sales

Retail sales in October increased 0.7 percent from September and 4.7 percent year-over-year led by discretionary purchases and growth in all categories, according to the National Retail Federation.Meanwhile, October retail sales released by the U.S. Commerce Department show that total retail sales (which include non-general merchandise categories such as autos, gasoline stations and restaurants)

September Retail Sales Show Strong Growth

Retail sales increased 0.4 percent from August and a better-than-expected 5.7 percent over last September, as shoppers continued to show strength during a weak economic recovery, according to the National Retail Federation.Meanwhile, September retail sales released by the U.S. Commerce Department show that total retail sales (which include non-general merchandise categories such as autos,

Retail Sales Continue to Show Improvement

Improvements in the U.S. economy bolstered retailer’s February sales, reflecting improved consumer sentiment as it relates to spending, according to the National Retail Federation. Retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) for February 0.6 percent seasonally adjusted from January and 4.2 percent unadjusted year-over-year, NRF said.“Retailers have done a

NRF Forecasts 4% Increase in Retail Sales for 2011

Retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) will increase 4 percent from 2010, according to the National Retail Federation 2011 economic forecast. The retail trade association said the “cautiously optimistic outlook” comes on the heels of seven consecutive months of retail sales growth and better than expected holiday sales.Consumer spending ended on a strong

NRF: Valentine’s Day Jewelry Sales Expected to Reach $3.5 Billion

Tiffany's Elsa Peretti open heart pendant in 18k rose gold.

Consumers are expected to shell out $3.5 billion on jewelry this Valentine’s Day, up from an estimated $3 billion last year, according to a National Retail Federation survey.More than 17 percent of consumers said they are planning on buying their loved ones something sparkly, up from 15.5 percent last year, according to the NRF’s 2011