The holiday season is a time for gathering and celebrating with friends
and family, gift-giving and general cheer and rejoicing. To commemorate
this time of year, the U.S. Census Bureau presents the following holiday-related
facts and figures from its data collection.
It’s in the Mail ...
20 billion
Number of letters, packages and cards the U.S. Postal Service expects
to deliver between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. The busiest
mailing day this year is expected to be Dec. 18, with more than twice
as many cards and letters being processed as the average on any given day. (Source:
U.S. Postal Service at <http://www.usps.com/communications/news/press/welcome.htm>)
About 12 million
Number of packages delivered by the U.S. Postal Service every day through
Christmas Eve. The busiest delivery day: Dec. 20. (Source: U.S. Postal
Service at
<http://www.usps.com/communications/news/press/welcome.htm>.
The December Rush to the Stores – Last Year
$31.7 billion
Retail sales by the nation’s department stores (including leased
departments) in December 2005. This represented a 47 percent jump from
the previous month (when retail sales, many Christmas-related, registered
$21.7 billion). No other month-to-month increase in department store
sales last year was as large.
Other U.S. retailers with sizable jumps in sales between November and
December 2005 were book stores (96 percent); clothing stores (49 percent);
jewelry stores (174 percent); radio, TV and other electronics stores
(54 percent); and sporting goods stores (67 percent). <http://www.census.gov/mrts/www/mrts.html>
14 percent
The proportion of total 2005 sales for department stores (including
leased departments) that took place in December. For jewelry stores,
the percentage was 24 percent. <http://www.census.gov/mrts/www/mrts.html>
23 percent
The proportion of growth in inventories by our nation’s department
stores (excluding leased departments) between the end of August and
the end of November 2005. Thanks to the holiday crowds, inventories
plummeted by 23 percent in December. <http://www.census.gov/mrts/www/mrts.html>
Note: Leased departments are separately owned
businesses operated as departments or concessions of other service establishments
or of retail businesses, such as a separately owned shoeshine parlor
in a barber shop, or a beauty shop in a department store. Also, retail
sales estimates have not been adjusted to account for seasonal or pricing
variations.
1.8 million
The number of people employed at department stores in December 2005.
Retail employment typically swells during the holiday season, last year
rising by an estimated 46,600 from November and 186,400 from October.
<http://www.bls.gov>
$19.4 billion
Value of retail sales by electronic shopping and mail-order houses in
December 2005 – easily the highest total for any month last year.
<http://www.census.gov/mrts/www/mrts.html>
$27.1 billion
The value of total retail e-commerce sales for the fourth quarter of
2005. This amount represented 2.7 percent of total retail sales over
the period and exceeded e-commerce sales for all other quarters of the
year. E-commerce sales were up 23 percent from the fourth quarter of
2004. <http://www.census.gov/mrts/www/ecomm.html>
15,626
The number of electronic shopping and mail-order houses in business
in 2004. These businesses, which employed 261,646 workers, are a popular
source of holiday gifts. Their sales: $147 billion, of which 35 percent
were attributable to e-commerce. California led the nation in the number
of these establishments and their employees, with 2,322 and 30,619,
respectively.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/county_business_patterns/006985.html>
and <http://www.census.gov/eos/www/papers/2004/2004finaltables.pdf>
If you’re not sure where to do your shopping, choices of retail
establishments abound: In 2004, there were 149,831 clothing and clothing
accessories stores; 9,360 department stores; 10,345 hobby, toy and game
shops; 33,956 gift, novelty and souvenir shops; 22,902 sporting goods
stores; 28,772 jewelry stores; and 11,218 book stores across the nation.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/county_business_patterns/006985.html>
48,695
The number of malls and shopping centers dotting the U.S. landscape
as of 2005, a total that increased by approximately 12,000 since 1990.
(Source: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2007.)
Christmas Trees and Decorations
$485 million
The amount of money the nation’s Christmas tree farmers received
from tree sales in 2005. Oregon was the top state in tree sales ($126
million), followed by North Carolina, Washington and Michigan. (Source:
USDA Economic Research Service at <http://www.ers.usda.gov/>)
$605 million
The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China between
January and August 2006. China was the leading country of origin for
such items. Similarly, China was the leading foreign source of artificial
Christmas trees shipped to the United States ($65 million worth) during
the same period. <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>
Where the Toys Are ... Made
116
Number of establishments around the country that primarily manufactured
dolls and stuffed toys in 2004; they employed 2,386 people. California
led the nation with 17 such locations.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/county_business_patterns/006985.html>
723
The number of locations that primarily produced games, toys and children’s
vehicles in 2004; they employed 16,465 workers. California led the nation
with 117 establishments.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/county_business_patterns/006985.html>
$3.2 billion
Total value of shipments for dolls, toys and games by manufacturers
in 2004.
<http://www.census.gov/mcd/asm-as2.html>
$639 million
The value of U.S. imports of stuffed toys (excluding dolls) from China
between January and August 2006. China was the leading country of origin
for stuffed toys coming into this country, as well as for a number of
other popular holiday gifts that were imported. These include electric
trains ($65 million), puzzles ($49 million), roller skates ($82 million),
sports footwear ($215 million), golf equipment ($47 million) and basketballs
($30 million). China barely edged out Canada as the leading supplier
of ice skates ($6.7 million versus $6.6 million), with Thailand ranking
third ($4.9 million). <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>
Holiday Names
Places whose names are associated with the holiday season include North
Pole, Alaska (population 1,778 in 2005); Santa Claus, Ind. (2,283);
Santa Claus, Ga. (242); Noel, Mo. (1,515); and — if you know about
reindeer — the village of Rudolph, Wis. (422). On top of that
there is Snowflake, Ariz. (4,958); Dasher, Ga. (807); and a dozen places
named Holly, including Holly Springs, Miss., and Mount Holly, N.C. (Source:
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/007001.html>
and American FactFinder)
Hanukkah
One-half
Proportion of the nation’s spuds produced in Idaho and Washington
in 2005. Potato latkes are always a crowd pleaser during Hanukkah. <http://www.nass.usda.gov/>