Holiday spending in Alabama should near $18.75 billion, growing 4% from last year.
Alabamians spent 5.6% more during November and December 2022 than they did during the same period in 2021.
Through November 2023, total taxed sales in Alabama had grown almost 3.8% over the same 11 months in 2022, based on the Alabama Revenue Department abstracts.
Alabama Retail projects that sales will continue to grow in Alabama through the end of the year, with the pace of growth slowing to 4% and possibly 3.5% or lower depending on another interest-rate hike and political uncertainty. Nationally, sales are expected to grow 3% to 4%.
A 4% growth rate in the traditional holiday spending months would put taxed spending at $18.74 billion in our state. In the final two months of 2022, Alabamians spent $18 billion.
Alabama Retail Association’s holiday growth prediction is for all taxed sales, including those from remote sellers.
A record 200.4 million people nationwide shopped over the five-day holiday weekend that began on Thanksgiving and ended with Cyber Monday, according to a National Retail Federation consumer survey. The national Retail Monitor calculation of core retail sales showed 4.24% growth for November sales over the same month in the previous year. Alabama’s growth rate for November was 2.5%, according to the latest revenue abstract.
Alabamians Continue to Spend, Shop Early & Smart
Alabama consumers have not stopped spending in the face of inflation and higher prices, but they continue to shop smarter and shop early. Looking for the best deals for their holiday purchases, consumers everywhere continue the trend of stretching their shopping budget out over a longer period. Many began holiday shopping as early as August, while others made a sizable dent in October.
The Alaba
ma Retail Association continues its #ShopAlabama campaign and encourages consumers to shop with local retailers in their communities. “The stores down the street or around the corner support your community in big and small ways daily,” said Alabama Retail Association President Rick Brown. “By shopping with retailers based in your community or our state, you contribute to the health of your local and state economies.”
Consumers Don’t Just Want Gifts & Gadgets; Food is Big Seller
While toys, big screen TVs and the latest gadgets get a lot of buzz, a sizeable chunk of the nearly $900 the average family plans to spend this holiday shopping season will be on candy and food, according to a National Retail Federation consumer survey.
Punta Clara Kitchen on Alabama’s Eastern Shore began making its fruitcakes, a holiday favorite, in August this year to meet demand through November. They started then to “get ready for the big rush that’s coming,” Kim Pacey Clay, president and manager of the family business told Alabama Retailer magazine.
“The holiday season is our busiest time at Ashley Mac’s,” Ashley McMakin says in the November cover story of Alabama Retailer. Besides buying holiday staples at the grocery store, consumers are buying more and more ready-made or heat-and-serve meals like those offered at Ashley Mac’s Kitchen.
Retailer Features
- Brighten your winter wardrobe with these colorful sweaters from Epiphany Boutique
- Ashley McMakin and her team bring favorite dishes from Ashley Mac’s Kitchen to yours
- Tuc and Reese Wilson carry on their father’s legacy at Saw’s BBQ in Alabama
- The Headland Bottletree offers Southern fare with small-town heart
- Byron’s Smokehouse traditions continue
- Bromberg’s, America’s oldest family retailer: Busy season won’t slow down for retailers until well after Christmas
- The fruitcake is sold out, but there’s a lot more to taste at Alabama’s Punta Clara Kitchen
- Find perfect holiday gifts at Alabama Goods
- Is it too cold for ice cream? Not at Cammie’s Old Dutch, a Mobile landmark
- Boll Weevil Soap Co.’s Chad Wester to emcee the lighting of Enterprise Christmas tree / Public invited to Nov. 30th tree lighting
- Before the doors open, the Noble South staff gathers at the table and connects over a shared meal
- Maggie’s Gift Shop, Yabba’s Wacky Snack Shack and Wolf Bay Boutique make list of small businesses to shop during holidays along Alabama coast
- Dew Drop Inn hot dog is a year-round tradition
- Sassy Owl Boutique and other Decatur businesses benefit from holiday sales
- Guy Fieri finds a saucy sandwich to savor at Roosters in Mobile
- Governor pardons Bates Turkey Farm’s Giblet and Pudding from the Thanksgiving table
- Shoppers looking for decorations and gift items early, At Home Furnishings manager says
Holiday Shopping News
- Adobe Analytics: Holiday spending sets new record online
- Americans ramped up spending during the holidays despite some financial anxiety and higher costs
- Report: $743 billion in merchandise returned in 2023
- Holiday spending increases again this year
- Census retail sales numbers ‘on track’ with national holiday spending forecast
- Survey: 142 million shoppers expected nationally for Super Saturday
- Retail Monitor shows strong retail sales gain for first half of holiday season
- Shop ’til you drop: Alabama shoppers cautious this Christmas due to inflation, budget uncertainty
- Thanksgiving holiday weekend sees record number of shoppers
- Alabama retailers are among those offering discounts on Cyber Monday
- Alabama Retail Association emphasizes the impact of local spending during the holiday season
- Governor proclaims Small Business Saturday, voices unwavering support for Alabama small businesses
- ‘Support your local community’: Homewood businesses encourage people to shop local
- Latest national survey shows top picks for toys and gifts for the winter holidays
- Alabamians seeing less sticker shock while grocery shopping this Thanksgiving
- Alabama state leaders warn of scams while shopping this holiday season
- NRF: More people than ever expected to shop during Thanksgiving holiday weekend
- Gadsden stores to benefit from increased holiday spending
- Bankrate: 81% of shoppers will shop on at least one of the big shopping days during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend
- Retail growth continues to slow as 2023 draws to its conclusion
- National economist says 2023 holiday sales will have a ‘whole new set of dynamics’
- Shoals’ shops anticipate a prosperous holiday shopping season
- Holiday spending expected to reach $18.75 billion in Alabama
- First holiday shopping period since new Alabama law passed aims to crack down on shoplifting
- Alabamians expected to spend more this holiday season, shopping local encouraged
- Alabama holiday spending expected to be up 4% from last year
- Alabama holiday spending expected to hit $18.75 billion this year, up 4% from last year
- Holiday spending in Alabama expected to increase this year
- Holiday spending in Alabama should near $18.75 billion, growing 4% from last year
This release will be updated throughout the traditional holiday shopping months to reflect the latest sales numbers in Alabama as well as any updates from the National Retail Federation.
A version of this article can be found on Page 3
of the November 2023 Alabama Retailer
Originally posted Oct. 30; updated Nov. 2, Nov. 9, Nov. 16, Nov. 20, Nov. 22, Nov. 27, Nov. 28, Dec. 5, Dec. 11, Dec. 13, Dec. 28, 2023; and Jan. 5, 2024.