The nearness of Thanksgiving Day means only one thing: It’s holiday feature story time again.
Here are some facts and figures that will help in writing those annual stories, all courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau:
Rush to the Stores
$27.4 billion
Retail sales by the nation's department stores (including leased departments) in December 2009. This represented a 45 percent jump from the previous month (when retail sales, many holiday related, registered $18.9 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 2009 were book stores (98 percent); clothing stores (36 percent); jewelry stores (135 percent); radio, TV and other electronics stores (42 percent); and sporting goods stores (71 percent).
Source: Service Sector Statistics
14%
The percentage of total 2009 sales for department stores (including leased departments) in December. For jewelry stores, the percentage was 21 percent.
Source: Service Sector Statistics
21%
The growth in inventories by our nation's department stores (excluding leased departments) from Aug. 31 to Nov. 30, 2009. Thanks to the holiday crowds, inventories plummeted by 23 percent in December.
Source: Service Sector Statistics
Note: Leased departments are separately owned businesses operated as departments or concessions of other service establishments or of retail businesses, such as a separately owned shoeshine parlor in a barber shop, or a beauty shop in a department store. Also, retail sales estimates have not been adjusted to account for seasonal or pricing variations.
$30 billion
Value of retail sales by electronic shopping and mail-order houses in December 2009 — the highest total for any month last year.
Source: Service Sector Statistics
21,895
The number of electronic shopping and mail-order houses in business in 2008. These businesses, which employed 332,405 workers, are a popular source of holiday gifts.
If you're not sure where to do your shopping, choices of retail establishments abound: In 2008, there were
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155,578 clothing and clothing accessories stores
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8,813 department stores
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9,211 hobby, toy and game shops
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29,390 gift, novelty and souvenir shops
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22,116 sporting goods stores
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26,683 jewelry stores; and
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9,708 book stores across the nation.
The figures shown are for locations with paid employees.
Source: County Business Patterns
Christmas Trees and Decorations
$488.5 million
The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China between January and August 2010. 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 ($28.2 million worth) during the same period.
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics
Where the Toys are … Made
98
Number of establishments around the country that primarily manufactured dolls and stuffed toys in 2008. California led the nation with 18 locations.
Source: County Business Patterns
614
The number of locations that primarily produced games, toys and children's vehicles in 2008; they employed 9,163 workers. California led the nation with 99 establishments.
Source: County Business Patterns
$5.1 billion
The value of U.S. toy imports including stuffed toys (including dolls), puzzles and electric trains from China between January and August 2010.
China was the leading country of origin for stuffed toys coming into this country, as well as for a number of other popular holiday gifts. These include roller skates ($37 million), sports footwear ($218 million) and basketballs ($32 million). China leads Thailand as the leading supplier of ice skates ($9 million versus $6 million), with Canada ranking third ($4 million).
Source: Foreign Trade Statistics
Holiday Names
Place names associated with the holiday season include North Pole, Alaska (population 2,226 in 2009); Santa Claus, Ind. (2,303); Santa Claus, Ga. (247); Noel, Mo. (1,615); and — if you know about reindeer — the village of Rudolph, Wis. (418) and Dasher, Ga. (821). There is Snowflake, Ariz. (5,686) and a dozen places named Holly, including Holly Springs, Miss., and Mount Holly, N.C.
Source: Population estimates
Hanukkah and Kwanzaa
50.9%
Proportion of the nation's spuds produced in Idaho and Washington in 2009. Potato latkes are always a crowd pleaser during Hanukkah.
Source: National Agriculture Statistics Service
$1.2 billion
The value of product shipments of candles in 2008 by the nation's manufacturers. Many of these candles are lit during Hanukkah and Kwanzaa celebrations.
Source: Annual Survey of Manufacturers
New Year's Eve and Day
More than 311 million
The nation's projected population as we ring in the New Year.
Source:Population projections
To see up-to-the-minute population estimates, go to the Population Clock.
From the Census Bureau:
Facts for Features are customarily released about two months before an observance in order to accommodate magazine production timelines. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau's Public Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; fax: 301-763-3762; or e-mail:pio@census.gov .
And if you are looking for data like this about Thanksgiving, go to the Bureau's Thanksgiving Day Facts for Features page.