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Last-minute shopping drove increases in retail sales and foot traffic in the week ending Dec. 22, according to ShopperTrak. The research firm said sales were up 39.1% and traffic was up 32.0% from the previous week. Compared to the same week in 2011, however, sales were down 2.5% and foot traffic was down 3.3%.
The firm said that Super Saturday - Dec. 22 - was the second-busiest retail sales and foot traffic day of 2012, after Black Friday - Nov. 23. Friday, Dec. 21, was the fourth-busiest sales and traffic day of 2012.
ShopperTrak forecasted that Wednesday, Dec. 26, will be the fifth-best retail foot traffic day and the seventh-best sales day of the year.
Founder of the research firm Bill Martin said the scheduling of the Christmas holiday will impact after-Christmas sales. In 2011, the day after Christmas was a Monday, and more people had the day off to go shopping. In 2012, the day after Christmas was a Wednesday and more people were back at work instead of in the stores.
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