Retail Results Heading into Final Holiday Push Reveal Shoppers Are Still Spending, Reports NPD
Retail sales growth during the week following Cyber Week was a welcomed reversal from this year's Black Friday and Cyber Monday results. In the final days of the season, last minute shoppers will need to look to physical retail stores, and BOPUS and curbside pick-up options to avoid delivery delays.
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., Dec. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Retail sales increased 3% in the week ending December 12 compared to the same week last year, and combined with the 9 prior weeks, holiday 2020 has shown 2% year-over-year dollar sales growth, reports The NPD Group.1 Additionally, NPD's early indicator data shows unit sales for the week declined -5% year over year. The continued divergence of dollar and unit comps is the result of higher-priced items being sold at retail and decreased promotional activity.
NPD's Checkout data from receipts highlights the changes in shopping activity across the total retail industry due to COVID-19. While in-store purchase activity still lags last year (-7% in the second week of December), the strong growth in online purchasing (+33% vs. last year) has pushed overall omnichannel buying activity up +3% vs. the same week last year. This week was the first time we've seen two consecutive weeks of total purchase activity outpace last year's performance.
"The final holiday push has arrived, but in 2020 the days seem to blur together, and it's clear consumers still have shopping to do," said Marshal Cohen, NPD's chief industry advisor, retail. "Now officially past comfortable shipping deadlines, last minute shoppers will be forced to look to physical retail stores for those remaining holiday gifts. While the arrival of the vaccine is likely to make consumers feel a little merrier, rising COVID-19 case counts will make BOPUS and curbside pick-up options more important than they have been all season,"
Who is the last minute shopper?
- According to NPD's annual Holiday Purchase Intentions Study, 17% of consumers didn't plan to start shopping until after Cyber Week, and 4% of planned to wait till the last minute to start their holiday shopping.
- In terms of finishing shopping, 36% of holiday shoppers planned to be done by early December, but 18% said they are usually shopping until the last minute.
- Late shoppers have the greatest concern for their own finances and the economy, evident in planned spending:
Average planned holiday spending for this year, based on when holiday shoppers planned to begin shopping.
Before Thanksgiving: $876
Thanksgiving/Black Friday/Black Friday Weekend/Cyber Monday: $680
December: $448
- Late season shoppers want to give physical gifts –they are less likely than earlier season shoppers to buy gift cards and intangibles, and virtually none planned to buy subscriptions as gifts.
Delivery options
In the past 8 months:
- 73% of consumers made an in-store purchase
- 72% made an online purchase for delivery
- 34% made an online purchase for in-store pick-up
- 31% made a purchase for curbside pick-up
Consumers from higher-income households are more likely to choose to buy online for pick-up in store (BOPUS) or curbside. 3
Looking back at Cyber Week, purchases began to look a lot more like presents.
The hottest categories during Cyber Week began to look more like gifts than the tissues, paper towels, and hand cleaners that were on the list during the week of Black Friday.
Top 10 YOY Growth Categories - Cyber Week 2020*
General Merchandise2, week ending December 5, 2020 vs. week ending December 6, 2019
1 – LCD TVs
2 – Sport Lifestyle Footwear
3 – Monitors
4 – Sports Toys
5 – Video Games Hardware
6 – Biography & Autobiography Books
7 – VR/AR Hardware & Accessories
8 – Fashion Dolls/Accessories & Role Play
9 – Handheld Specialty Cleaning Appliances
10 – Heaters
For more information, or to speak with Marshal Cohen, contact Janine Marshall at [email protected], and check NPD's special holiday coverage and follow #NPDHoliday on Twitter to see the latest insights across retail.
1 Source: The NPD Group/Point-of-Sale Early Indicator Report, NPD Universe, WE December 12, 2020
2 Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, apparel, athletic footwear, beauty, Blu-ray/DVD, office supplies, small appliances, technology, toys, video games.
3 Source: The NPD Group/Omnibus, November 2020 (survey fielded December 1-7, 2020)
*Seasonal Category Tracking is based on a subset of industries available weekly at a category level.
Media Contact
Janine Marshall, The NPD Group, 516-625-2356, [email protected]
SOURCE The NPD Group
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