Sales for the upcoming holiday shopping season are expected to increase from 3.6 to 4 percent, compared to last year’s sale. That will amount to sales between $678.75 billion to $682 billion during the months of November and December, according to a survey from The National Retail Federation (Washington, D.C.). (Other surveys seem to be forecasting around the same amount for holiday shopping, as well.)
The uptick in spending is being attributed to an increase in online shopping as well as improving wages, according to U.S. News & World Report. Online sales are expected to rise from 11 percent to 15 percent.
The group is uncertain, however, what role the major hurricanes that have hit the country recently will have upon spending. Sales from automobiles, gas and restaurants are not included in the forecast.