Prices Boost Holiday Sales
Supermarket price increases of about 1.5% in the fourth quarter of 2010 helped drive sales gains of 2.3% for the holiday period, according to data from Kantar Retail and the U.S. Department of Commerce. That compared with sales increases of 0.6% in the year-ago fourth quarter, but still trailed the gains posted by drug stores (3.5%) and foodservice and drinking places (5.1%). The restaurant sales gains, in contrast to those of supermarkets, was demand-driven, as opposed to being propelled by price increases. Shoppers were choosing supermarkets less often for gifts, however, according to Kantar's Retail ShopperScape December survey of 3,571 holiday shoppers.
SOURCE: Kantar Retail and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
15.3%
Online and catalog retailing was up year over year in Q4 of 2010.
58%
of holiday shoppers looked for gifts at Wal-Mart in Q4 of 2010.
Supermarkets grew on a bigger-than-expected price pickup — despite competition, especially with Wal-Mart.
— Frank Badillo, senior economist, Kantar Retail
CHANNEL | 2010 | 2009 | CHANGE |
---|---|---|---|
Book and media stores | 21.1% | 31.0% | -9.9% |
Grocery stores/Supermarkets | 18.1% | 27.5% | -9.3% |
Small-format value retailers | 14.1% | 22.9% | -8.8% |
Apparel specialty retailers | 15.3% | 22.4% | -7.1% |
Warehouse clubs | 15.9% | 22.8% | -6.9% |
Drug store retailers | 14.4% | 21.3% | -6.9% |
Shoe retailers | 7.7% | 14.4% | -6.7% |
Personal care and beauty retailers | 18.4% | 24.4% | -6.0% |
SOURCE: Kantar Retail ShopperScape survey December 2010 vs. December 2009 asking where consumers shopped for holiday gifts