11 Jan 2019; AFP: Holiday shopping reports released Thursday underscored anew the challenges US retailers face in the Amazon era -- even if consumers are willing to open their wallets to spend.
The updates were a mixed bag overall, with several retailers reporting small or moderate increases in comparable store sales during the critical November-December period.
But a report from Macy's aroused the most angst on Wall Street, after the chain slashed its profit forecast even as it signaled a modest increase in sales.
Shares in Macy's plunged almost 20 percent, while nearly every major retailer was pulled down as well.
That included companies like Target that reported higher holiday sales and confirmed -- but did not raise -- profit forecasts.
The results were an ugly finale to a holiday shopping season that opened with high expectations owing to robust consumer confidence amid a strong employment market, relatively low gasoline prices and a boost from tax cuts.
Mastercard SpendingPulse in December estimated holiday sales growth of around 5.1 percent to more than $850 billion, the strongest jump in the last six years.
By that estimate, the 2018 holiday shopping season was a strong one -- just not for retailers.
"It was a good season. Consumers had more money to spend. They spent it," said retail industry consultant Dana Telsey.
"But the cost of doing business is getting higher."
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