The Holiday Season

Christmas Trees & Ornaments

$473 million
The amount the nation's farmers received from Christmas tree sales in 2000. That was up 14 percent from 1995. Oregon is the nation's Christmas tree capital: the Beaver State accounted for more than one-quarter of total Christmas tree sales by farmers across the country. http://www.usda.gov/nass/

$592 million
Value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China, the leading country of origin for such items, between January and August 2001. Similarly, China was the leading foreign source of artificial Christmas trees in the United States ($62 million worth in shipments) and and Christmas tree lighting sets ($143 million worth). http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/

Holiday Names

1
The number of places in the United States named "Christmas." That unincorporated town is Christmas, Fla., whose Census 2000 population was 1,162.

Other places around the nation whose names are associated with the holiday season include North Pole, Alaska (population 1,570); Santa Claus, Ind. (population 2,041); Santa Claus, Ga. (population 237); and Noel, Mo. (population 1,480). http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet

$47,607
Value of U.S. imports between January and August 2001 from Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the Pacific Ocean south of Hawaii. Doubtless, a few of these were "Christmas gifts from Christmas Island." http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/

Holiday Shopping -- The December Rush

The Holiday Season is critical for retailers. Just how critical? Here are some examples using the most recent Census Bureau data. Note that the following estimates have not been adjusted to account for seasonal variations.

$34.7 billion
Retail sales by the nation's department stores (including leased departments) in December 2000, a 43 percent jump from the previous month (when retail sales registered $24.3 billion). No other month-to-month increase last year came anywhere near that.

Other U.S. retailers with sizable jumps in sales between November and December 2000 included clothing stores (43 percent); jewelry stores (166 percent); book stores (73 percent); sporting goods stores (71 percent); and radio, TV and other electronics stores (59 percent). http://www.census.gov/mrts/www/mrts.html

$12.9 billion
Value of mail-order sales in December 2000, easily the highest total of any month that year. http://www.census.gov/mrts/www/mrts.html

$8.9 billion
Value of e-commerce sales between October and December 2000. This amount, which comprised 1.1 percent of total retail sales over the period, was greater than e-commerce sales for any other quarter of the year. http://www.census.gov/mrts/www/mrts.html

1-in-7
Ratio of December 2000 sales to total 2000 sales for department stores (including leased departments). For jewelry stores, the ratio was even higher -- almost 1-in-4. http://www.census.gov/mrts/www/mrts.html

24%
Amount by which the nation's department stores (excluding leased departments) built up their inventories between the end of August and the end of November 2000. Thanks to the holiday hordes, inventories then proceeded to drop by 23 percent in the final month of the year. http://www.census.gov/mrts/www/mrts.html

Where are the Gifts Made?

217
Number of establishments around the country that primarily manufactured dolls and stuffed toys in 1999; their total shipments: $359 million. California led the nation in such locations, with 28.http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-78.htm for establishments. http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/industry.html for value of industry shipments.

800
Number of locations that primarily produced games, toys and children's vehicles in 1999; their total shipments: $3.5 billion. California led the nation in establishments, with 123. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-78.htm for establishments. http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/industry.html for value of industry shipments.

$664 million
Value of U.S. imports of stuffed toys (excluding dolls) from China between January and August 2001. China was the leading country of origin for toyd, as well as for a number of other popular holiday gifts. These include dolls ($562 million in exports to the United States over the period); electric trains ($37 million); puzzles ($21 million); ice and roller skates ($87 million); sports footwear ($154 million); golf equipment ($16 million); tennis rackets ($35 million); and basketballs ($28 million). http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/

Where Do You Buy Holiday Gifts?

10,634
The number of electronic shopping and mail-order houses open for business in 1999; these businesses are a popular source for buyers of holiday gifts. California led the nation in locations, with 1,644.

If you're looking for that perfect gift, alternatives abound, such as the 151,674 clothing and clothing accessory stores; 10,538 department stores; 10,789 hobby, toy and game shops; 35,167 gift, novelty and souvenir shops; 23,140 sporting goods stores; 28,552 jewelry stores; and 11,957 book stores. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-78.htm

45,115
Number of malls and shopping centers dotting the U.S. landscape in 2000, a total that is up almost 9,000 from 1990. California had the highest number of shopping centers (6,044), followed by Florida (3,452), Texas (3,045) and Illinois (2,175). http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-27.html

Winter Wonderland

7.4 million
Number of Americans who reported they alpine-ski more than once a year, as of 1999. Other popular winter sports include ice- or figure-skating (7.7 million participants); cross country-skiing (2.2 million); ice hockey (1.9 million); and snowboarding (3.3 million) http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-27.html

2+ feet
Average depth of the snowfall each December in Mt. Washington, N.H.; Blue Canyon, Calif.; Sault Sainte Marie, Mich.; and Syracuse, N.Y., all good places to partake in winter sports during the holidays. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/cb01-27.html

The preceding facts come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service; Census 2000; U.S. import and export trade reports; Monthly Retail Trade -- Sales and Inventory estimates; County Business Patterns; the Annual Survey of Manufactures; and the Statistical Abstract of the United States. The data are subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Previous 2001 Census Bureau Facts for Features: African American History Month (February), Valentine's Day (Feb. 14), Women's History Month (March), Census Day, 2000: One Year Later (April 1), Mother's Day (May 13), Asian Pacific American Month (May), Older Americans Month (May), Father's Day (June 17), the Fourth of July, Americans with Disabilities Act Anniversary (July 26), Back to School (August), Grandparents' Day (Sept. 9), Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15); Halloween (Oct. 31); American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month (November); and Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 22). Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau's Public Information Office (Tel: 301-457-3030; Fax: 301-457-3670; E-mail: <pio@census.gov>).