The Commerce Department said Wednesday that seasonally adjusted retail sales rose 0 percent in December from the previous month..6%, this sharply higher-than-expected increase was achieved in November..3% healthy growth after the emergence of。The following is a summary of the main highlights for the Retail Report:

Strong holiday spending:

• -- U.S. consumers show strong spending in holiday season。-- U.S. retail sales rose 0 percent in December from the previous month on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the Commerce Department..6%, exceeding expectations。
• - This increase followed November 0.3% healthy growth。

Economic Power:

- Growing wages and slowing inflation are cited as factors supporting consumer purchasing power。-- Spending growth and a slowdown in price increases indicate that the economy is achieving a soft landing, avoiding a recession.。

Holiday sales record:

-- Holiday sales in November and December hit a record $964.4 billion (unadjusted for inflation), beating expectations, according to the National Retail Federation.。-Expenditure growth in the 2023 holiday season reached almost 4%, slightly slower than the growth rate in the previous three years, but consistent with the pre-epidemic trend。

Online shopping and trends:

U.S. consumers spent a record $222.1 billion online between November and December, up 4 percent from a year earlier..9%。- Discounts and the use of the "Buy Now, Pay Later" option were cited as contributing factors to the surge in online spending。

Company Performance:

- Some companies, such as Lululemon (LULU) and Abercrombie & Fitch, raised their financial targets due to stronger-than-expected sales。- However, NIKE (NKE) cut its annual revenue forecast due to global consumer spending adjustments and increased competition。

Consumer Confidence and Federal Reserve Outlook:

-- Consumer confidence remains historically low despite positive economic indicators。-- Strong consumer spending is expected to keep the Federal Reserve holding short-term interest rates steady at its next meeting (Jan. 30-31) and considering cuts later this year.。

Economic Growth and Projections:

-- The economy is expected to grow 2 percent in 2023, according to the latest Wall Street Journal survey of economists..6%, largely thanks to strong consumer spending, defying last year's recession expectations。Household spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of the U.S. economy, is expected to drive growth this year, including spending on services like tourism that people missed during the lockdown of the outbreak.。

Economic expansion and potential slowdown:

The economic expansion is expected to slow to 1% in 2024 due to the expected slowdown in the labor market and the continued impact of higher interest rates will be felt by consumers and businesses.。

Positive factors for December:

-December saw the most rapid wage growth in six months, and consumers' perceptions of their economic conditions and inflation trends improved.。-While overall inflation picked up in December, product prices in the gift category, which includes home appliances, footwear, sporting goods and toys, fell from the previous month。