Winter Holidays by the Numbers
From the
U.S. Census Bureau
It's in the Mail
19 billion
Number of cards, letters and packages the U.S. Postal Service expected to deliver
between Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2008. The busiest delivery day was expected
to be Dec. 17, with more than twice as many cards and letters being processed as the average on any given day.
Rush to the Stores
$28.2 billion
Retail sales by the nation's department stores (including leased departments)
in December 2008. This represented a 40 percent jump from the previous month (when
retail sales, many holiday-related, registered $20.2 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 2008
were book stores (95 percent); clothing stores (32 percent); jewelry stores
(125 percent); radio, TV and other electronics stores (38 percent); and sporting goods
stores (62 percent).
14%
The proportion of total 2008 sales for
department stores (including leased departments) in December. For jewelry
stores, the percentage was 18%.
23%
The
proportion of growth in inventories by our nation's department stores
(excluding leased departments) through Aug. 31 to Nov. 30, 2008. Thanks to
the holiday crowds, inventories plummeted by 25% in December.
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 shoe-shine 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.
$24 billion
Value of retail sales by
electronic shopping and mail-order houses in December 2008–the highest
total for any month last year.
16,670
The number of electronic shopping and
mail-order houses in business in 2007. These businesses, which employed
268,328 workers, are a popular source of holiday gifts. Their sales: $199
billion, of which 44.6% were attributable to e-commerce. California led the
nation in the number of these establishments and their employees, with 2,493
and 32,971, respectively.
If you're not sure where to do your shopping, choices of retail
establishments abound: In 2007, there were 155,371 clothing and clothing
accessories stores; 10,116 department stores; 9,515 hobby, toy and game shops;
30,920 gift, novelty and souvenir shops; 23,756 sporting goods stores; 27,484
jewelry stores; and 10,635 book stores across the nation. The figures shown are
for locations with paid employees.
Christmas Trees and
Decorations
$410 million
The gross earnings
of Christmas tree farmers in 2007.
$109.3
million
Sales by Christmas tree farmers in Oregon in 2007, which led the nation.
$470.3
million
The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China between
January and August 2009. 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
($28.6 million worth) during the same period.
Where the Toys are ... Made
94
Number of establishments around the country
that primarily manufactured dolls and stuffed toys in 2008; they employed
1,641 people. California led the nation with 17 locations.
683
The number of locations that primarily
produced games, toys, and children's vehicles in 2007; they employed
10,708 workers. California led the nation with 112 establishments.
$3.2 billion
Total value of shipments for dolls,
toys and games by manufacturers in 2007.
$4.3
billion
The value of U.S. toy imports including stuffed toys (excluding dolls), puzzles
and electric trains from China between January and August 2009. 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.
These include roller skates ($30 million), sports footwear ($120 million), golf balls ($31 million) and
basketballs ($29 million). China leads Canada as the leading supplier of ice skates ($12 million versus $5 million),
with Thailand ranking third ($4 million).
Holiday
Names
Place names associated with the holiday season include North Pole, Alaska (population 2,212 in 2008);
Santa Claus, Ind. (2,314); Santa Claus, Ga. (250); Noel, Mo. (1,608); and — if you know about reindeer —
the village of Rudolph, Wis. (412) and Dasher, Ga. (849). There is Snowflake, Ariz. (5,673) and a dozen
places named Holly, including Holly Springs, Miss., and Mount Holly, N.C.
Hanukkah and
Kwanzaa
50.4%
Proportion of the
nation's spuds produced in Idaho and Washington in 2008. Potato latkes
are always a crowd pleaser during Hanukkah.
$1.3
billion
The value of product shipments of candles in 2002 by
the nation's manufacturers. Many of these candles are lit during
Hanukkah and Kwanzaa celebrations.
New
Year's Eve and Day
79,389
The estimated
July 1, 2008, population of Champaign, Ill., a place whose name alone may
get you into a celebratory mood.
$475 million
U.S. manufacturers shipments of effervescent wines (including sparkling
wines, such as champagne) in 2002.
More than 308
million
The nation's projected population as we ring in
the New Year.
Information Please® Database, © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
