US Shopper Traffic Falls in Week Before Christmas

(IDEX Online News) – Terrible weather that hit many parts of the United States in the run-up to Christmas discouraged many shoppers from going to malls and stores in the crucial final week of the holiday season.

Shopper traffic at brick-and-mortar stores fell by 21.2 percent for the week of December 16 to 22, compared to the same period of 2012, research firm ShopperTrak reported.

Sales of general merchandise, such as clothing, furniture, and other products, slipped 3.1 percent from the same week last year, ShopperTrak said.

“Bad weather throughout the country kept some shoppers away from stores,” said ShopperTrak founder Bill Martin. “This past week was their final opportunity to complete their holiday shopping before Christmas — and though many did finish making their purchases, retailers did not see as many shoppers as last year.”

Even with increased discounts and promotional efforts by retailers, sales on the last Saturday before Christmas inched down 0.7 percent from the same day in 2012, while in-store shopper traffic plunged 18.1 percent from the same day in 2012.