Mastercard advisors wants to make Retail Holiday sales look good?

[krazykarl]

Quote from spades434:

And regarding MA and V, keep in mind that more and more people are using debit cards for just about every previous cash transaction. Outstanding credit has declined quite a bit, so I'm not sure how'd you factor in the typical credit card usage as well.

This is a key point: recessions are good for many reasons, not the least of which is people tend to increase savings and pay-down debt. I expect online sales to be up yoy over 10% and sss yoy up over 5%.

 

[obama-lama]

Quote from ralph00:

Online sales were way up. They account for a small % of total retail sales (getting larger every year), but they were way up.

I was scurrying about town on Xmas eve looking for a specific toy for my kids. Went into the local WMT and the toy aisle was nearly empty. Sales must have been WAY stronger than they expected.

That suggests WMT nailed "expected" sales, nothing "way stronger" about it. Having little inventory on Xmas eve within the fickle xmas nucleus category of toys is a retailers xmas wish!

And what the hell is the "MasterCard Advisors unit SpendingPulse?" I don't ever recall hearing from or about that "unit" in Christmas' past (nor at any other time for that matter).