Moody’s: Pent-up demand to fuel holiday sales growth in 4.5% to 5.5% range

New York -- Holiday sales growth is looking up for the nation’s retailers, with much of the lift coming from pent-up demand, according to Moody’s Investors Service. The company’s holiday forecast is the 4.5% to 5.5% range, which is higher than the National Retail Federation’s forecast of 3.9% and the International Council of Shopping Centers’ forecast of 2.0%.



Moody’s Report on the Holiday Shopping Season notes that holiday shoppers will, as they have in past, look past U.S. fiscal policy debates and continued economic uncertainties. The best-performing segments will continue to be toys, electronics, party goods, luxury goods and retailers whose goods are perceived to offer value.



New product launches such as the Xbox one and Playstation 4, along with the recent iPhone 5c and 5s, should provide a boost in holiday electronics sales for retailers such as Best Buy, Toys "R" Us, and Amazon.com, according to Moody’s.