The holiday season is a time for gathering and celebrating with friends and family, gifts giving, reflection and thanks. To commemorate this time of year, the U.S. Census Bureau collected data from its collection of statistics.
Rush to the stores
$27 billion
Retail sales by the nation's department stores (including leased departments) in December 2011. This represented a 45 percent jump from the previous month (when retail sales, many holiday-related, 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 bookstores (76 percent); clothing stores (38 percent); jewelry stores (129 percent); radio, TV and other electronics stores (40 percent); and sporting goods stores (55 percent).
14.3%
The percentage of total 2011 sales for department stores (including leased departments) in December. For jewelry stores, the percentage was 19.3 percent.
22%
The growth in inventories by the nation's department stores (excluding leased departments) from Aug. 31 to Nov. 30, 2011. Thanks to the holiday crowds, inventories plummeted by 21 percent in December.
$38 billion
eThe value of retail sales by electronic shopping and mail-order houses in December 2011 –– the highest total for any month last year.
22,534
The number of electronic shopping and mail-order houses in business in 2010. The businesses, which employed 311,792 workers, are a popular source of holiday gifts.
If you're not sure where to do your shopping, choices of retail establishments abound: In 2010 across the country, there were 147,614 clothing and clothing accessories stores; 26,899 gift, novelty and souvenir shops; 23,739 jewelry stores; 21,418 sporting goods stores; 8,876 bookstores; 8,779 hobby, toy and game shops; and 8,626 department stores. The figures shown are for locations with paid employees and do not include nonemployer firms, which are firms with no paid employers.
Christmas trees and decorations
$1.03 billion
The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China between January and September this year. 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 ($139.9 million worth) during the same period.
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.
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.
$9.6 billion
The value of U.S. toy imports, including stuffed toys (such as dolls), puzzles and electric trains from China, between January and September this year. China was the leading country of origin for stuffed toys coming into the U.S., as well as for a number of other popular holiday gifts. These include sports footwear ($227.7 million), basketballs ($41 million) and roller skates ($31.8 million). China led Thailand as the leading supplier of ice skates ($10.7 million versus $9.5 million), with Canada ranked third ($3.6 million).
Holiday names
Place names associated with the holiday season consist of a dozen places named Holly including Mount Holly, N.C., (population 13,719) and Holly Springs, Miss., (7,638). There is Snowflake, Ariz., (5,587), Santa Claus, Ind., (2,484), North Pole, Ala., (2,154), Noel, Mo., (1,822) and — if you know about reindeer — Dasher, Ga., (934), and the village of Rudolph, Wis., (440). There also is Santa Claus, Ga., (166). In Florida, there is Christmas (1,146).
Hanukkah and Kwanzaa
58%
Proportion of the nation's spuds produced in Idaho and Washington during the fall of 2011. Potato latkes are always a crowd pleaser during Hanukkah.
$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. 8-16) and Kwanzaa (Dec. 26-Jan. 1) celebrations.
New Year's Eve and Day
More than 315 million
The nation's projected population as the New Year rings in.