Holiday sales up 4.1% based on data from CNBC/Retail Monitor
Sales rose across the board in December as consumers didn't let economic uncertainty and other concerns get in the way of holiday spending.
Core retail sales (excluding restaurants, auto dealers and gas stations) rose 1.6% month over month in December and increased 3.58% year over year, according to the CNBC/NRF Retail Monitor released Monday by the National Retail Federation. Core holiday retail sales (Nov. 1 through Dec. 31) grew 4.1%, based on Retail Monitor data. That compares with NRF’s forecast that holiday sales would increase between 3.7% and 4.2% from the same period in 2024.
Total retail sales, including restaurants but excluding automobile dealers and gasoline stations, rose 1.26% month over month and increased 3.54% year over year in December.
A late Thanksgiving pushed Cyber Monday into December in 2025, so an additional busy day of holiday spending is included in December’s data, the NRF noted. December’s numbers brought total 2025 sales as calculated by the Retail Monitor to an increase of 4.93% over 2024 and core sales to an increase of 5.08%.
December sales were up across the board on a monthly basis, led by sporting goods, hobby, music and book stores, followed by general merchandise stores and clothing stores.
“Continued economic momentum helped land 2025 holiday sales near the top of NRF’s forecast, reaffirming that consumers remain on solid footing,” said NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay.
Specifics from key sectors are below.
•Clothing and accessories stores were up 2.05% month over month and up 6.11% year over year.
•Sporting goods, hobby, music and book stores were up 3.52% month over month and up 5.16% year over year.
•Digital products (such as electronic books and games) were up 0.98% month over month and up 3.6% year over year.
•General merchandise stores were up 2.9% month over month and up 3.42% year over year.
•Grocery and beverage stores were up 0.33% month over month and up 2.85% year over year.
•Health and personal care stores were up 1.92% month over month and up 2.5% year over year.
•Electronics and appliance stores were up 2.28% month over month but down 0.09% year over year.
•Furniture and home furnishings stores were up 0.33% month over month but down 0.82% year over year.
•Building and garden supply stores were up 1.11% month over month but down 5.3% year over year.
Unlike survey-based numbers collected by the Census Bureau, the Retail Monitor uses actual, anonymized credit and debit card purchase data compiled by Affinity Solutions and does not need to be revised monthly or annually.
