How big is Christmas to the U.S. economy? Take a look at the numbers, courtesy of the U.S. Census, National Retail Federation and IBISWorld.com.
- $2.2 trillion: Total annual retail spending.
- $437 billion: Retail spending during the holiday season, including food and beverages but not restaurants, vehicles or gasoline.
- $117 billion: Amount spent on gifts by adults, based on survey questions.
- $60 billion: Excess retail spending in November and December, over other months.
- $12 billion: The difference between a good Christmas season and a bad one about 1/10 of 1 percent of the U.S. economy.
By comparison, Americans spend:
- $30 billion: Roofing work
- $40 billion: Painting contractors and paint
- $70 billion: Plumbing
- $95 billion: Dentists
These numbers were distributed by the Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service.
Know a small business you think we should write about? Contact Herald writer Amy Rolph at arolph@heraldnet.com.
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