Holiday Shopping - Providence Business News

IF YOU BOUGHT an unsuccessful gift this holiday season with a “buy now, pay later” plan, you or the recipient might soon be wondering how to return it. / AP FILE PHOTO/JULIA NIKHINSON

Buy now, pay later can make gift returns trickier

Economic Activity 12/21/2022

Shoppers who used “buy now, pay later” to help finance gifts this holiday season may soon encounter an unwelcome surprise: returns can be more...

A SHOPPER EYES the merchandise at a retail store in Glenview, Ill. earlier this month. Holiday sales rose at the fastest pace in 17 years, even as shoppers grappled with higher prices, product shortages and a raging new COVID-19 variant in the last few weeks of the season, according to one spending measure. / AP PHOTO/NAM Y. HUH

Despite supply issues and omicron, holiday sales rise 8.5%

Coronavirus 12/27/2021

Holiday sales rose at the fastest pace in 17 years, even as shoppers grappled with higher prices, product shortages and a raging new COVID-19...

DOMENIC SCHIAVONE, RIGHT, Warwick Mall general manager, says more shoppers have hit the stores earlier in the holiday shopping season this year because of question marks surrounding the supply chain and the new variant of COVID-19. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Will new COVID-19 variant, supply-chain worries alter holiday shopping season?

Coronavirus 12/03/2021

Fears that retailers might not be able to restock shelves and that a new COVID-19 variant will curtail public gatherings and activities have apparently...

’TIS THE SEASON: Holiday knick-knacks are displayed at a Macy’s department store on Oct. 1 in Denver. Stores are trying to attract earlier holiday shoppers as a way to reduce crowding during the COVID-19 pandemic. / AP PHOTO/DAVID ZALUBOWSKI

Retailers start holiday season earlier than ever

Coronavirus 10/09/2020

NEW YORK – Add last-minute holiday shopping to the list of time-honored traditions being upended by the coronavirus pandemic. Retailers are kicking off the...

SHOPPERS CARRY bags as they cross a street in San Francisco on Nov. 29. More people turned to online shopping during one of the shortest holiday shopping seasons in years, helping boost total sales. Retail sales in the U.S. rose 3.4% between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24 from a year ago, according to early data from Mastercard SpendingPulse. That's down from last year, when total sales grew 5.1%. Online sales rose at a faster pace, up 18.8% from last year. / AP PHOTO/JEFF CHIU

Online purchases make up a larger portion of overall holiday retail...

Economic Activity 12/27/2019

NEW YORK (AP) – More people did their shopping online this year during one of the shortest holiday shopping seasons in years, helping to...

Finding a deal

Executive Poll 11/29/2019

Do you regularly shop on Black Friday? No: 66.7% Yes: 33.3% Where do you do most of your holiday shopping? Online: 55.6% Brick-and-mortar stores: 44.4% Malls: 0% Other: 0% From whom do...

PROVIDENCE MAYOR Jorge O. Elorza has announced the return of the #ThinkPVD campaign for 2019. / PBN FILE PHOTO/STEPHANIE ALVAREZ EWENS

Will you make a point to shop local during the holiday...

Business Services 11/22/2019

The holiday shopping season is underway. One of the signature local kickoff events, Small Business Saturday Shop RI, will be held Nov. 30 at...

THE JOHNSTON TOWN COUNCIL on Sept. 15 will hold a public hearing on a proposed 20-year tax stabilization agreement for Amazon.com Services LLC to build a $290 million, 3.8.-million-square-foot distribution facility on nearly 200 acres at 2120 Hartford Ave. / COURTESY JOHNSTON PLANNING BOARD

Amazon’s record holiday shows consumers’ spending splurge

Economic Activity 12/26/2018

NEW YORK – Amazon.com Inc. reported a record-breaking holiday season as shoppers loaded their online baskets with items from Echo speakers to Calvin Klein...

Finding a good deal

Executive Poll 12/14/2018

Did you shop on Black Friday or during Small Business Saturday? No: 62.5% Yes: 37.5% How soon do you begin holiday shopping? November: 50% Early December: 25% Last minute: 25% Where...