Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1514622
W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 11 JA N UA R Y 2 2 , 2 0 2 4 B I Z M O N E Y Despite 'Grinch' storm, customers rang registers with holiday gift buying B y P e t e r V a n A l l e n M aine retailers were pleased overall with the holiday shopping season, though hard numbers won't be available till February. The critical shopping season — from November to Christmas Eve — was interrupted by the fierce Dec. 18 "Grinch" storm, which knocked out power to more than 500,000 Maine customers. While last- minute shoppers were likely affected by the storm and power outages, the shopping season was a good one for the most part. "Overall, we are hearing that most Maine retail- ers had a good holiday shopping season," Curtis Picard, president and CEO of the Retail Association of Maine, told Mainebiz. "We are waiting to hear more, and see hard data (in mid Februar y) about how the Dec. 18 storm impacted that critical last week of shopping. Certainly some folks were unable to open, but the sales tax receipts may not show that impact if people shifted those last minute purchases online. However, going into that final week, a number of retailers seemed to be pleased with how the season was going." US saw 3.8% gain The holiday shopping season was a boon to retailers nationally, with a gain of 3.8% over the previous year. The CNBC/National Retail Federation "Retail Monitor" showed that holiday retail sales — from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31 — were $964.4 billion, in line with the trade group's forecast. The numbers do not include sales of cars, gas or restaurant meals. Online sales rose more than 8.2% from the 2022 holiday shopping season. Among brick-and-mortar stores, health and personal-care stores saw a gain of 9% in sales in the recent holiday shopping season. "December's numbers combined with November's results show retailers had a very successful two- month holiday season," said Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation. "Clearly, retailers got it right this holiday season, providing consumers with what they wanted, options on when and where to make their purchases and with prices customers were comfortable paying." Total retail sales for all of 2023 were up 5.32% over 2022 and core retail sales were up 4.46%. P H O T O / R E N E E C O R D E S Many retailers in Kennebunkport offered sales on holiday merchandise after the Christmas Prelude festival for last-minute shoppers. Maine retailers had a good holiday shopping season, even with disruptions from the Dec. 18 'Grinch' storm.