ShopperTrak Reports Super Saturday Sales Strong
Tuesday, 26 December 2006
ShopperTrak RCT Corporation's National Retail Sales Estimate has reported that the 2006 holiday retail season finished just as it began, with a flourish of consumer spending on 'Super Saturday,' December 23. Preliminary sales estimated at a daily rate for the day totaled $8.72 billion or $8,724 million, rising 61.7 percent as compared to the same daily period in 2005.
Although it was predicted that 'Super Saturday' would be the strongest retail sales day of the year, initial estimates indicate the day came up just short of Black Friday's strong sales performance, which posted a very healthy $8.96 billion. Sales for Friday (December 22) and Saturday (December 23) combined totaled $16.28 billion, up 22.5 percent over the same two-day period in 2005, indicating a very successful close to the holiday shopping season for retailers.
"While it appears 'Super Saturday' finished second to Black Friday this year, the total dollars spent indicate a very strong close to the holiday shopping season as procrastinating shoppers proved they were willing to spend," said Bill Martin, co-founder of ShopperTrak. "It's possible that consumers may have responded to the anticipated large crowds on 'Super Saturday' and pushed to get their shopping done earlier in the week, or simply taken pains to avoid crowded malls altogether," Martin noted. "Nevertheless, retailers should be very pleased with this last-minute sales boost."