Holiday 2010: The year shoppers came back

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO

NEW YORK (AP) - Shoppers came back in force for the holidays, right to the end. After two dreary years, Christmas 2010 will go down as the holiday Americans rediscovered how much they like to shop.

People spent more than expected on family and friends and splurged on themselves, too, an ingredient missing for two years. Clothing such as fur vests and beaded sweaters replaced practical items like pots and pans. Even the family dog is getting a little something extra.

"You saw joy back in the holiday season," said Sherif Mityas, partner in the retail practice at A.T. Kearney.

A strong Christmas Eve augmented a great season for retailers. The National Retail Federation predicts spending this holiday season will reach $451.5 billion, up 3.3 percent over last year.

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20101225/D9KALDU81.html

---

Tomorrow conservatives will spin this as the sales came back because Americans feel better with the wins the R's picked up in November.


A line of men wait with items to be gift wrapped at the UNICEF counter at the Christiana Mall in Newark, Del. on Friday morning, Dec. 24, 2010. The National Retail Federation predicts that holiday spending will reach $451.5 billion this year, up 3.3 percent over last year. (AP Photo/The Wilmington News-Journal, Jennifer Corbet)

[JI7]

1. there was a poll which showed that most americans don't know Republicans won Congress

also Dems still controll SEnate

[MrModerate]

2. Is it just me, or is cognitive dissonance at an all time high?

Unemployment is through the roof, and people are having a blast of an Xmas; Obama got more progressive legislation through a conservadem-heavy congress than any president in living memory, and is excoriated from right and left for both having done too little and too much; companies are seeing the highest profits ever and the stock market is approaching pre-recession levels, but the world banking system is tottering on its pins and may fall over tomorrow. War in Afghanistan has dragged on longer than the Soviet invasion, and yet the president calls it a success; nuclear war could break out on the Korean peninsula at any time and no one even notices!

Arrrgh! Alice, where's that goddam rabbit hole?

[Kolesar]

5. The press cannot present important information to the public

Even the local newspapers are failing. The TV news is a basketcase: except for CBS' 60 Minutes.

[Le Taz Hot]

3. Not around here.

I live behind a major mall and in years past, the lines to get into the parking lot could last 2-3 city blocks. This year and last year you could drive right in and easily find a parking space. That mall was closed at 7:00 last night.

[nebenaube]

4. phffft!... last christmas before doomsday...

Haven't you heard? The rapture is in May!

[Codeine]

6. My spending went way up.

And none of it credit, thankfully.

[Jefferson23]

7. Who is spending more, the wealthy were given a reason recently to

celebrate and shop. Other than that, I find this OP hard to believe.

[lunatica]

8. I wonder how many of those shoppers maxed out their credit cards

intending to eventually default and try to declare bankruptcy.

[Lucky Luciano]

9. Strategic mortgage defaults have been a huge backdoor stimulus to retail.

Ie someone who can afford the mortgage but chooses not to pay since it is so badly underwater. Might as well live rent free for a year until foreclosure kicks in and spend the money on Christmas shopping!

[snappyturtle]

10. Me thinks there will be a lot of new year resolutions regarding

over spending. I wonder how many people spend to 'protect' themselves...i.e. not want others to think things aren't going all that well for the spenders? The whole scene makes me sick and I'll be happy to see the season end. Sorry.

[robcon]

11. Good news. I think the recession will be over soon.

n/t

[rug]

12. Heh, I don't see any women in that picture of the gift wrap line.

[devils chaplain]

14. Ha...

My first thought also. And the recession's not totally over -- I relecutantly saved a few dollars by wrapping the presents myself this year.

[rug]

15. Welcome to DU!

There was a charity at the mall wrapping for donations. I figured it was still cheaper given all the paper I'd ruin.

[ooglymoogly]

13. This is always the hype around this time of year.

Wait for the long lines snaking around the store returning Items they can not afford and when the credit card bills pile up. The shakeout will come around mid January to mid February when there is no longer a paramount need to keep consumer holiday confidence peaked.

[Hatchling]

16. The buzz heard on loca; pub;ic transportation this week=

is that this may be the last good Christmas they are going to see so people are going as all out as they can this year.

[Prometheus Bound]

17. Four men in a line in an underpopulated mall on Christmas Eve?

That picture does not overwhelm me with optimism.