Budgets/Spending/Market Size

NEW YORK — An overwhelming majority (72%) of U.S. consumers expect their holiday spending to be “careful” or “controlled” in 2011, according to Accenture’s annual consumer holiday shopping study. Discounts, sales and prices are still top of mind this holiday, with 40% of consumers saying an item being on sale is the single most important factor in their decision to purchase.

Reston, Va. -- Mobile phones drive digital traffic around the world, but tablets are gaining steam, according to a new report released by ComScore. The report, “Digital Omnivores: How Tablets, Smartphones and Connected Devices are Changing U.S. Digital Media Consumption Habits,” found that smartphones and tablets are driving nearly 7% of total U.S. digital traffic.

Key findings highlighted in the report include:

It is still very early in the holiday season and anything could happen from a pricing perspective. However, with that as a caveat, it appears Target and Walmart are in a virtual dead heat when it comes to toy pricing, according to a survey by Citigroup’s senior retail analyst Deb Weinswig.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation said Friday that high unemployment rates remain a concern as retailers head into the holiday season.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Thursday by the National Retail Federation predicted an average holiday shopping season. According to the NRF forecast, holiday retail sales for 2011 are expected to increase 2.8% to $465.6 billion. While that growth is far lower than the 5.2% increase retailers experienced last year, it is slightly higher than the 10-year average holiday sales increase of 2.6%, according to NRF.

WASHINGTON — A report released Thursday by the National Retail Federation predicted an average holiday shopping season. According to the NRF forecast, holiday retail sales for 2011 are expected to increase 2.8% to $465.6 billion. While that growth is far lower than the 5.2% increase retailers experienced last year, it is slightly higher than the 10-year average holiday sales increase of 2.6%, according to NRF.

Springfield, N.J. -- Village Super Market, which operates 28 supermarkets under the Shop Rite name in the Northeast, reported Thursday that net income for the fourth quarter was $8.8 million, an increase of 14% after backing out the extra week in last year’s fourth quarter.

Without the adjustment, net income fell from $8.9 million a year earlier.

Revenue rose nearly 1% to $345 million from $342.7 million. After excluding the extra week, revenue increased nearly 8%. Same-store sales rose nearly 8% excluding the extra week.

In addition to all the various strategies Walmart has in place to restore same-store sales growth to its U.S. division. A major factor in its favor is that the size of the pie is expected to growth this year.

The National Retail Federation is out with its annual forecast, and according to the trade group, holiday sales are expected to increase 2.8% to $465.6 billion. While that growth is less than the 5.2% increase retailers experienced last year, it is slightly higher than the 10-year average holiday sales increase of 2.6%, according to NRF.