Discounts and sales events have remained a significant sales driver, as consumers emerge from a more than two-year stretch of high inflation. It’s unclear how much those deals will cut into Target’s and other retailers’ profit margins, and whether sales will keep improving if promotions fade away.

Sales for the 2024 holiday shopping season turned out to be robust and better than expected, as easing inflation on merchandise drove shoppers to buy, according to the nation’s largest retail trade group.

Retail sales gained 0.4% in December from November, slightly below projections for a 0.5% increase, according to FactSet.

Retail sales rose at a solid pace in the final month of 2024, capping off a good holiday shopping season and suggesting the economy entered the new year with some momentum.

Americans stepped up their spending at retail stores and restaurants last month in a clear sign that consumers are still able and willing to shop.

British retail sales fell unexpectedly in December, according to official data on Friday that added to a run of downbeat economic indicators that are likely to further boost expectations for a Bank of England interest rate cut next month.

Looks like we had a good retail month, but not a great one. The anticipation was for a very strong retail sales number comes in at 4/10 instead of the 6/10 that was forecast ex autos 4/10 as well, ex autos and gas 3/10.

U.S. retail sales increased in December as households bought motor vehicles and a range of other goods, pointing to strong demand in the economy and further reinforcing the Federal Reserve's cautious approach to cutting interest rates this year.