Seasonal

Brick-and-mortar sales metrics were below expectations in September, but not all was lost.

According to the September 2015 Retail Performance Pulse report from brick-and-mortar analytics firm RetailNext Inc., traffic declined at the lowest rate since January of this year.

The National Retail Federation issued an above average holiday season sales forecast in which the desire of Americans to spend will be offset by their ability to do so.

The trade group projects that total holiday sales will increase 3.7% to $630.5 billion during the November time-frame and that online sales would increase between 6% and 8% to represent $108 billion of the total.

Shoppers are starting their holiday shopping earlier every year — and it's partially due to a perception that the deals aren't all that great anymore on Black Friday.

According to RetailMeNot’s annual holiday Shoppers Trend Report, only 10% of consumers believe that it is worth waiting until Black Friday for deals.

For the 2015 holiday shopping season, the dollar figure forecast on consumer spend is less relevant for retailers, according to PwC's 2015 Holiday Outlook. Rather, a deeper understanding of the complex retail landscape and the focus on building long-term shopper relationships is how retailers will define success this year.

PwC outlines 10 big trends that are expected to drive the 2015 holiday shopping season:

San Francisco -- General Growth Properties announced the launch of the first-ever marketplace at Stonestown Galleria’s in San Francisco. The marketplace is a partnership with SFMade, a California 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that promotes goods and services manufactured, designed and produced in the Bay Area.

Every year, it seems, summer and the “back to school” shopping season go by in a flash.

Chattanooga, Tenn. -- CBL & Associates Properties and DreamWorks Animation are ringing in the holiday with the ultimate Santa experience at Oak Park Mall in Overland Park, Kansas City.

Ross Dress for Less will open a new store in Elizabeth City, North Carolina on Oct. 10. The 18,000-sq.-ft.store is located in Tanglewood Pavilions.

The opening is part of the retailer’s 2015 expansion program, totaling approximately 70 new locations during the year.