Retailers across Massachusetts blamed distractions from the fiscal cliff standoff, fierce competition from online rivals, and mild weather for delivering a holiday season that fell short of expectations.
Sales at local merchants in November and December grew by a modest 2.76 percent compared with the previous year — below the 3.5 percent increase projected by the Retailers Association of Massachusetts. Industry analysts had expected a bigger boost given relatively stable employment figures, growing consumer confidence, and an extra weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2012.
“It’s a little bit disappointing,” said Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, which has been polling its 3,500 members on the holiday season since the beginning of the month. “The calendar was so favorable, we were hoping for a little more.”
The tepid results are in line with national trends....
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Many say they’ll spend more for holiday gifts
A day of giving thanks and getting bargains
Thanksgiving is a holiday beloved by many Americans because it has largely defied the commercialization that has overwhelmed Christmas. But that tradition is fading fast as retailers, beset by weak consumer spending in recent years, have invoked new strategies to get people to open their wallets. Across most of the nation, chain stores opened on Thanksgiving evening."
Eager Mass. shoppers cross the border to shop in N.H.
Mobile users get a jump on Black Friday deals
Hurricane Sandy sucked the wind out of November’s sales
It only hit the upper East Coast. I guess they think you will buy any excuse for a mismanaged economy.
Sandy slowed US consumer spending
Initial jobless reports fall sharply
Only temporary effect there, pffft.
Retail sales edge up in Nov. as consumers buy more online
Holiday sales slump after big weekend
Bouncing holiday prices have buyers reeling
18 percent of Americans take pass on holiday shopping
Holiday shows bringing box office joy
Arts leaders say the holiday-show boom has shadowed the slow, steady growth of the economy.
29 million travelers set Logan record
Surge in visitors from Asia, better economy cited.
Holiday sales a big letdown for US retailers
Early results indicate growth was slowest since 2008 across country.
Worst since 2008? Then we never had a recovery!
Shoppers out in force as Christmas approaches
Retailers report strong December
Uh-huh.
Also see: Boston Globe Giving You the Business
Giving you something, all right.
Yes, I recognize the odor coming from the news pages next to me.
"Church services for those bereft of holiday joy" by Lisa Wangsness | Globe Staff, December 14, 2012
LEXINGTON — “Blue Christmas” services have been proliferating at churches in the Boston area and around the country during December in recent years, offering what can be a welcome respite from pressure to exude Yuletide cheer for those who are grieving, struggling, or just feeling low....
Liturgical historians are unable to pinpoint the origin of the phenomenon, although it seems to be a relatively recent one....
The Rev. Lizette Larson-Miller, a professor of liturgical leadership at Church Divinity School of the Pacific, said in an e-mail that she suspects a combination of factors explain the emergence of Blue Christmas services in the late 20th century.
In the secular world, she said, there is the unrelenting pressure from the retail industry during the holidays, and diminished face-to-face interaction amid the rise of social media....
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"Church services for those bereft of holiday joy" by Lisa Wangsness | Globe Staff, December 14, 2012
LEXINGTON — “Blue Christmas” services have been proliferating at churches in the Boston area and around the country during December in recent years, offering what can be a welcome respite from pressure to exude Yuletide cheer for those who are grieving, struggling, or just feeling low....
Liturgical historians are unable to pinpoint the origin of the phenomenon, although it seems to be a relatively recent one....
The Rev. Lizette Larson-Miller, a professor of liturgical leadership at Church Divinity School of the Pacific, said in an e-mail that she suspects a combination of factors explain the emergence of Blue Christmas services in the late 20th century.
In the secular world, she said, there is the unrelenting pressure from the retail industry during the holidays, and diminished face-to-face interaction amid the rise of social media....
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