The holiday forcast from Deloitte estimates total holiday sales in the $981-986 million range for the Nov.-Jan. timeframe, a moderate improvement from the 2.8% gain generated during the 2013 season. Deloitte is also forcasting a 13.5-14.0% increase in online/mail order sales for the season with digital interactions influencing 50%, or $345 billion of retail stores during the two-month period. Deloitte's forecast for US Holiday sales growth is more bullish than the 3.8% increase by Dallas-based Alix Partners last week, which decribed the outlook as "mediocre".
Meanwhile, NPD is reporting a 14% quarterly increase in shopping visits to dollar stores for the 3 months ended July 31, despite a 4% drop in overall brick-and-mortar visits. The segment realized a gain in younger shoppers (16-24 years old), up 11% among males and 4% among females. The research house said the increase was prompted by the group's use of shopping as a social behavior and need for instant gratification and lowest price.