Fun Facts: The Holiday Season

Rush to the Stores

$27 billion: Retail sales at the nation’s department stores in December 2011. This represented a 45 percent jump from the previous month when retail sales registered $18.6 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 2011 were-

• Book stores: 76 percent
• Clothing stores: 38 percent
• Jewelry stores: 129 percent
• Radio, TV and other electronics stores: 40 percent
• Sporting goods stores: 55 percent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business and Industry

Christmas Trees and Decorations

$103 billion: The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China between January and September 2012. China was the leading country of origin for such items. Similarly, China was the leading foreign source of artificial Christmas trees supplied to the United States with $139.9 million worth shipped during the same period.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics 

Where the Toys Are Made

73: Number of establishments around the country that primarily manufactured dolls and stuffed toys in 2010. California led the nation with 10 locations.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code 339931

525: The number of locations that primarily produced games, toys and children’s vehicles in 2010; they employed 7,374 workers. California led the nation with 85 establishments.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code 339932

Some places around the country that may put you in the holiday mood are:

• Snowflake, AZ, population 5,587
• Santa Claus, IN, population 2,484
• North Pole, AK, population 2,154
• Noel, MO, population 1,822
• Santa Claus, GA, population 166

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates

Hanukkah and Kwanzaa

58 percent: Proportion of the nation’s spuds produced in Idaho and Washington during the fall of 2011. Potato latkes are always a crowd pleaserduring Hanukkah.  

Source: National Agriculture Statistics Service, Crop Production, Page 14

$1.38 billion: The value of product shipments of candles in 2011 by the nation’s manufacturers. Many of these candles are lit during Hanukkah (Dec. 8 to 16) and Kwanzaa (Dec. 26 to Jan. 1) celebrations.  

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of Manufacturers