Consumer Attitudes & Behavior

It was a record year for online sales this past holiday season, but Target saw others experience stronger growth, according to the most recent site visitation statistics from online measurement firm comScore.

As previously reported, the size of the prize this holiday season was $37.2 billion. That’s the volume of online sales comScore recorded during November and December, which was a 15% increase from the prior year.

I know it’s simply human nature to want the best of the best, and to prioritize top quality. And, it’s certainly no different in our industry. Lately, analysts and investors seem to be spending an awful lot of time and energy focusing on only the “top” properties and brands. I think they may be a bit short sighted and could even be missing out on some great opportunities. I’m talking about the ongoing debate between “A” and “B” malls.

Washington, D.C. -- Survey results released Thursday by the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association, and conducted by BIGinsight, found that 173 million people will watch the Super Bowl football game on Sunday, Feb. 5, the most in the survey’s eight-year history and up from an estimated 171 million last year.

Arlington, Va. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association on Thursday released a first-of-its-kind retail sustainability report discussing retail's environmental, social, and community impacts.

"As one of the leading industries to embrace sustainability, it is becoming a core consideration for the retail industry," said Adam Siegel, RILA VP of sustainability and retail operations. "Retailers are working to incorporate sustainability into their strategy, operations, workforce engagement, and connection to consumers and communities.”

London -- A report released Thursday by the Confederation of British Industry said that U.K. retail sales fell in January at the fastest pace in almost three years, reversing an increase in December when discounting by stores drew shoppers.

The gauge of annual sales growth fell to minus 22, the lowest since March 2009, from nine in December, according to the report.

New York City -- The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index slightly dropped in December despite small improvements in three-out-of-four components.

The index — which is comprised of tax burden, initial unemployment claims, real wages and real home prices — fell to 1.86 from a reading of 1.93 the previous month. Because of this drop, the ability for consumers to continue to spend at the rates seen in 2011 may be in question, Deloitte said.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation said it welcomed the emphasis on job creation in President Obama’s State of the Union address, saying that it will help restore the nation's economic state.

By Jim Singer and Mark Langsfeld, [email protected], [email protected]

Want to read something scary? Here’s an excerpt of a review on Quiznos posted on a popular restaurant review site: