ICSC: Holiday shopping not over for many

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- A U.S. retail trade group said 32.6 percent of U.S. shoppers said they were done with holiday purchases on Nov. 28, meaning spending for many had barely begun.

The International Council of Shopping Centers said Tuesday the percentage of shoppers indicating they were done for the year at the end of November survey was "far lower than in recent years."

For retailers, that news bodes well after what many considered a successful week in the retail sector.

Receipts at chain store rose 0.5 percent in the week ending Nov. 27, with sales boosted by bargain hunters, ICSC said.

Compared to the same week a year ago, receipts were 3.5 percent higher -- with a 5 percent increase in electronics sales -- in the week that included Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

"The week was positively impacted by more retailers opening on Thanksgiving Day, strong online shopping and the consumers' healthy appetite for bargains," ICSC said.

In total, ICSC said, 34 percent of the nation's pool of consumers or 81 million people age 16 and over shopped on Black Friday.