A MasterCard Advisor’s SpendingPulse survey found that sales during the holiday season from Black Friday through to Christmas Eve increased by 5.5 percent on the year. Jewelry sales were among the top-performing sectors.
"This holiday season was a social one," said senior vice president Sarah Quinlan.
"While certain retail categories saw steady performance from prior months, the focus on creating experiences stayed at the top of many lists. From dining out to planning trips to memorable pieces of jewelry, we saw increases in those categories that will drive future stories beyond just a package exchanged with a friend or family member."
Amazon reported that almost two-thirds (60 percent) of its shoppers used a mobile device during the holiday season, while holiday sales via its Amazon app were twice those for last year.
