Retailers see biggest spike in sales since 2011

Washington

CONSUMER confidence, robust online shopping activity and a slew of procrastinators helped boost holiday retail sales this year to record-setting numbers, preliminary reports show.

Holiday sales increased 4.9 per cent over the previous year, marking the largest year-over-year increase since 2011, according to the latest Mastercard SpendingPulse report, which tracks retail spending by all payment types. Its figures do not include automotive sales.