Update from MasterCard SpendingPulse

The SpendingPulse figures represent overall retail sales, and are based on aggregated spending activity in the MasterCard U.S. payments network coupled with estimates on all other payments forms, including cash and check. Auto sales are excluded.

Much of the boost in November’s sales was due to increases in electronics sales, which, benefiting from hot product promotions grew at a 12 percent rate. Men’s apparel sales grew 7 percent, just slightly more than total apparel sales (6.9 percent), helped by holiday shoppers responding to the cooler seasonal weather across the Northern regions. Lagging sectors for November overall included women’s apparel (down 3.9 percent), furniture (a 3.5 percent drop) and furniture/furnishings (down 1.4 percent).

Overall, November’s year-over-year growth in the eCommerce channel was up by a very robust 21.7%. Though there are days during the holiday shopping season that tend to have more volume than the Monday after Thanksgiving, this traditional kickoff day for online holiday sales made an even stronger showing.

“Black Friday, the traditional kickoff to the holiday shopping season, showed a strong increase in sales across the board, but this growth faded as the weekend progressed,” noted Michael McNamara, vice president of research and analysis for MasterCard Advisors. “Indeed, overall sales for the holiday season are likely to show only moderate growth following Black Friday’s surge.” The spike and subsequent falloff was evident throughout numerous retail sectors.

Here are the Black Friday year-over-year growth rates:

• Total apparel was up 11.2 percent compared to Black Friday 2006, 5.9 percent for the entire holiday weekend.
• Men’s apparel increased 7.7 percent on Black Friday, 4.4 percent for the total holiday weekend.
• Women’s apparel was up 10.5 percent on Black Friday, 1 percent for the weekend
• Footwear was up 9.2 percent on Black Friday, 6 percent for the weekend.
• eCommerce sales were up 44 percent the first Monday after Thanksgiving and 30.5 percent on Black Friday.