Part 4/7:
Examining specific sectors for the two-month period reveals a mixed bag of performances. Non-store retailers experienced a notable surge, while general merchandise sales increased by 6.2%. Health and personal care products showed a steady gain of 4.5%. Conversely, gas stations reported a decline of 3.5%, suggesting that the funds spent there may have redirected towards other retail categories.
In the electronics and appliances sectors, sales rebounded strongly in December after a challenging November. While the data provided a positive overview of spending trends, it was noted that measuring the profitability of retailers and distinguishing between last-minute price reductions and full-price sales remains difficult.