Topic: The National Retail Federation
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Three best ways (and three worst ways) to finance holiday shopping
Consumers tend to rack up a lot of credit card debt during the fourth quarter, largely due to holiday expenses. This year, by one estimate, the average holiday shopper is on track to spend around $800. For many, that means financing, which remains a double-edged sword despite historically low interest rates and an array of new consumer protections. It can either save you a lot of money in interest and fees or trip you up with caveats buried in fine print that drastically inflate your expenses. Here are three of the best and three of the worst financing offers for holiday shoppers in 2012:
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Six tips to get a seasonal job
When it comes to quickly adding hundreds of thousands of workers to payrolls, nothing does the trick quite like the holidays. Companies will add hundreds of thousands of workers in the run-up to Christmas. Here are six tips to help you get one of those temporary jobs:
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Father’s Day gifts: 5 things to do with Dad for under $150
Father's Day gifts are around the corner, and we're spending the most Father's Day bucks this year on experiences. This suggests we want to spend time with Dad, more than anything. With that in mind, here are 5 suggestions for Father's Day outings that won't break the bank.
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Holiday shopping online: How to avoid the '12 cyber scams of Christmas'
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Jack-o'-lanterns and more: five symbols in the history of Halloween
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Online sales tax bill hits a potential firewall
A bill aimed at collecting sales tax for online goods has cleared the Senate. However, the House will prove to be a problem as many see the bill as a tax increase – something many Republicans pledged they would not do.
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Jobs report for March a disappointment. What happened?
The US economy created only 88,000 jobs last month. Possible factors include the increase in payroll taxes, which went into effect at the beginning of the year, and the tailing off of repairs from superstorm Sandy.
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Saving Money Easter by the numbers: How many Peeps will we eat?
Easter Sunday will cost $145.13 per person this year, and the marshmallow Peeps made per year could circle the earth twice. Easter by the numbers:
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Robert Reich Where have all the customers gone?
It used to be that when consumers spent less, government stepped into the breach and spent more in order to keep people employed, Reich writes. No longer is that the case, he adds.
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Why is Wal-Mart worried? Payroll tax could cut consumer spending. (+video)
Recent reports forecast lower spending for this year, anticipating that the restored payroll tax will impact consumers' wallets, especially low-income earners. Wal-Mart is adjusting its strategy.
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Super Bowl XLVII super stats: chicken wings, avocados, and HDTVs
Super Bowl XLVII will be watched by more people than ever before, and they're buying millions of televisions and preparing lots of food to mark the occasion. Here's a look at the mind-boggling stats for Super Bowl XLVII's TV audience.
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Saving Money Valentine's Day gifts: What people really want
This Valentines Day, stay away from the usual suspects, like candy and flowers. What most people really want on Valentine's Day is time.
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Mattel and Hasbro 'terrified': Do kids want gadgets more than toys?
Mattel and Hasbro terrified that kids will want toys less next year, according to reports. Hot toys did well this Christmas, but retailers in general saw less growth than expected.
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Retail sales just ho-hum this holiday season
Preliminary reports show holiday sales rose only 0.7 percent over November and December, which could be the economy's worst holiday performance since 2008.
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Are 'fiscal cliff' woes killing Christmas sales?
In last weekend before Christmas, traditionally a strong sales period, shoppers cite worries over taxes and so-so discounts as reasons to rein in spending. Experts warn of ho-hum holiday sales.
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Shopping procrastination? Tips for last-minute Christmas gifts online.
Some people had all of their holiday shopping done a month ago. But there's still time for procrastinators who want to snag last-minute Christmas gifts online.
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Christmas shopping: Did retail season already go over the 'fiscal cliff'?
Holiday retail sales were hampered initially this year by the the aftermath of hurricane Sandy and more recently by shoppers' fiscal cliff fears. The run-up to Christmas will make or break the season.
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Three best ways (and three worst ways) to finance holiday shopping
Consumers tend to rack up a lot of credit card debt during the fourth quarter, largely due to holiday expenses. This year, by one estimate, the average holiday shopper is on track to spend around $800. For many, that means financing, which remains a double-edged sword despite historically low interest rates and an array of new consumer protections. It can either save you a lot of money in interest and fees or trip you up with caveats buried in fine print that drastically inflate your expenses. Here are three of the best and three of the worst financing offers for holiday shoppers in 2012:
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Shopper alert! Will labor strike at L.A. ports mean bare shelves?
The holiday inventory is already in place, but goods for the post-Christmas sales are bottled up off the coast of Los Angeles, as container ships from Asia go unattended due to a six-day labor strike.
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Cyber Monday, Black Friday sales strong. Do they matter?
Cyber Monday set sales records and Black Friday spending was robust. But the long Black Friday weekend is no barometer for overall holiday shopping – it may even be a negative.
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Stocks end lower after strong week
Stocks retreated after one of their best weeks of the year. Anxiety over the 'fiscal cliff' and European debt drove stocks down.
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Black Friday record: Weekend sales up 13 percent
Black Friday record pushes spending to $59 billion over four days. By extending Black Friday, retailers made it easy to shop and drew in record numbers of shoppers.
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Cyber Monday: deals could lead to biggest online sales day (+video)
Cyber Monday deals are expected to rack up $1.5 billion in sales, up 20 percent from last year's Cyber Monday. Cyber Monday deals include deep discounts on televisions, major appliances, and jewelry.
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Cyber Monday: More firms say its OK to shop at work
Cyber Monday, the busiest online shopping day of the year, is likely to lure many workers to go online in search of Cyber Monday deals. This year, only a third of companies are blocking access to online shopping sites, according to a recent survey.
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Black Friday: Will the 'fiscal cliff' darken the mood in the malls?
Economists view Black Friday as a litmus test for consumer confidence, which is showing signs of weakening. Whether Washington can come to terms to avert the fiscal cliff – and tax hikes – is a wild card.
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On Black Friday, retailers take customization to the next level
To combat online shopping and a slow economy, more retailers are providing more convenient shipping options and providing layaway, price matching, and smart phone apps for shoppers.
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Six tips to get a seasonal job
When it comes to quickly adding hundreds of thousands of workers to payrolls, nothing does the trick quite like the holidays. Companies will add hundreds of thousands of workers in the run-up to Christmas. Here are six tips to help you get one of those temporary jobs:
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FedEx will add 20,000 workers for busy holiday season
FedEx predicts it will ship 280 million packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas. To handle the surge, FedEx will hire 20,000 additional seasonal workers – the same as last year.
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Modern Parenthood Back-to-school stats: How much do Americans spend shopping?
Americans spend billions on back-to-school shopping, whether it is for clothes or books, according to statistics from the US Census Bureau. But maybe the spending is worth it; people with higher degrees still earn more.
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Modern Parenthood Back-to-school shopping shocker: $700 for first-grade supplies?
Back-to-school shopping trends report suggest the average – that's average – cost of kindergarten through 12-grade classroom supplies is close to $700. Time for a funky vintage school supply fad?
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