Customers wait in line to enter a Best Buy store on Black Friday in Houston, Texas on November 27, 2009. Shoppers across the country waited outside for several hours for retailers to open to take advantage of Black Friday sales, which is considered as the traditional kick-off for the Christmas shopping season. UPI/Aaron M. Sprecher |
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PURCHASE, N.Y., Dec. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. consumers spent about 3.6 percent more during this year's holiday season than the dismal sales total of 2008.
SpendingPulse, a service from MasterCard Advisors, issued information Sunday that showed the increase in spending in the period Nov. 1-Dec. 24. While the total was up from 2008, that year was noted for its lack of spending as the U.S. economy hit recession.
A large increase was seen in Internet shopping, which SpendingPulse said was up 15.5 percent over last year.
Overall figures for 2009 won't be known until sales figures from the weekend after Christmas -- generally one of the busiest for U.S. retailers -- are compiled.
