Winter Holidays by the Numbers

From the U.S. Census Bureau

Rush to the Stores

$18.4 billion

The estimated retail sales by the nation's department stores in December 2019. A decrease of 5 billion in retail sales from December 2015. Online shopping and early black Friday deals have chipped away at the December rush. 

13.9%

The estimated percentage of total 2019 sales made in December for toys and hobby shops. That means that they make 86% of their sales in the other 91.5% of the year. 

$85.2 billion

The estimated value of online retail shopping in December 2019, an all time high. 

$55.7 billion

The estimated value of retail sales by electronic shopping and mail-order houses in December 2015—the highest estimated total for any month last year.

Christmas Tree Decorations

$2.5 billion

The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China in 2019. Imports from China led the way with 92.4% of the total imports of Christmas tree ornaments.

$484.9 million

The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree lights in 2019. Christmas tree lights are now mainly imported from Cambodia, taking the top spot from China. 

Where Toys Are Made

532

The number of locations nationwide that primarily produced dolls, toys and games in 2018, an increase of 15 locations from 2013 (545); they employed 6,215 workers in the pay period including March 12, a decrease of 323 employees from 2013 (6,538). California led the nation with 93 establishments.

Holiday Names

Some names of places associated with the holiday season consist of a dozen places named Holly, including Mount Holly, N.C. (population 14,176), and Holly Springs, Miss. (7,610). There is Snowflake, Ariz. (5,666); Santa Claus, Ind. (2,474); North Pole, Alaska (2,189); Noel, Mo. (1,824); and—if you know about reindeer—Dasher, Ga. (963), and Rudolph, Wis. (432). There is also Unity, N.H. (1,603), and Peace, N.D. (28).

23.6 million

The estimated number of young domestic turkeys hatched during September of this year in the United States, up 21.0 percent from September 2015.

$546.8 million

The value of U.S. imports of tapered candles in 2019. Most of these came from Vietnam, representing more than 46.8% percent of America's imported tapered candles, followed by Canada with 16.7% percent. Many of these candles are lit during Diwali (Nov. 11), Hanukkah (Dec. 6-14) and Kwanzaa (Dec. 26-Jan. 1) celebrations as well.