Deloitte Forecasts 3.5 to 4 Percent Increase in Holiday Sales

NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The economy's health and the presidential election take center stage among consumers this fall, but with holiday shoppers waiting in the wings retailers should expect a modest increase in 2012 holiday sales, Deloitte forecast today.

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"Economic headwinds nagging consumers this fall include stubbornly high gasoline prices that continue to creep up and soft housing and job markets," said Carl Steidtmann, Deloitte's chief economist.  "While consumers turned out in the summer to give retailers solid gains for a few months, that pace may be difficult to sustain through the end of the year.  Consumers and businesses alike may pause in advance of the election; however, retailers may benefit from a post-election consumer spending boost."

Deloitte's retail & distribution practice expects total holiday sales to climb to between $920 and $925 billion[i], representing a 3.5 to 4 percent increase in November through January holiday sales (excluding motor vehicles and gasoline) over last season.  This growth rate is below last year's 5.9 percent gain.

Additionally, Deloitte forecasts a 15 to 17 percent increase in non-store sales.  Nearly three-quarters of non-store sales result from the online channel with additional sales coming from catalogs and interactive TV. 

"Non-store sales continue to outpace overall growth, but increasingly influence consumers' experience with the retail store, from trip planning, to in-store product research, and post-purchase reviews and sharing," said Alison Paul, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP and retail & distribution sector leader.  "This holiday season, retailers' most lucrative customers may be the ones they engage across physical and virtual storefronts."

Paul noted that consumers might also consolidate or reduce trips to the store in response to higher gas prices. Conversely, she added, consumers are expected to keep a sharp eye on promotions and pricing, making retailers' digital connections with consumers before and during each shopping trip even more critical this year.

"This year, we anticipate retailers will come to the starting gate with true omni-channel pricing strategies, as opposed to disparate or reactionary strategies of the past," said Paul.   "Consumers should see more price transparency across mobile, online and store channels, and retailers will use these same channels to gain insights into their core customers' behavior.  Retailers that interpret and respond to real-time information about shoppers can hit the right notes on pricing and promotions that drive traffic without eroding margins."

Deloitte also anticipates that mobile-influenced retail store sales will account for 5.1 percent, or $36 billion[ii], in retail store sales this year during the holiday season, driven by consumers' store-related smartphone activity such as product research, price comparison or mobile application use.   

"Retailers that welcome the smartphone shopper in their stores with mobile applications and wi-fi access -- rather than fear the showrooming effect -- can be better positioned to accelerate their in-store sales this holiday season," said Paul.   Recent research[iii] from Deloitte indicates that shoppers armed with smartphones are 14 percent more likely to make a purchase in the store than those who do not use a smartphone as part of their in-store journey.  "The mobile channel is a powerful customer engagement tool, enabling retailers to capture a shopper's attention at the point-of-purchase, while gleaning valuable information about shopper behavior regardless of the shopper's location."

About Deloitte's Retail & Distribution Practice
Deloitte is a leading presence in the retail and distribution industry, providing audit, consulting, risk management, financial advisory and tax services to 80 percent of the Fortune 500 retailers.  With more than 1,400 professionals, Deloitte's retail & distribution practice delivers  insights and solutions assisting retailers across all major subsectors including apparel, grocery, food and drug, wholesale and distribution and online. For more information about Deloitte's retail & distribution sector, please visit www.deloitte.com/us/retail-distribution.

As used in this document, "Deloitte" means Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries.  Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

[i] Deloitte is forecasting a 3.5 to 4 percent increase in 2012  holiday sales compared with 2011.  Retail sales between November 2011 and January 2012 (annualized, not seasonally adjusted and excluding automotive and gasoline) totaled $889 billion according to the U.S. Commerce Department.

[ii] Mobile-influenced store sales are estimated based on Deloitte's mobile influence factor (The Dawn of Mobile Influence, June, 2012) applied to forecasted retail (store) sales for November 2012 through January 2013, based on U.S. Commerce Department retail sales data.  Deloitte's analysis of mobile-influenced sales exclude motor vehicle and parts dealers, non-store retailers (which include electronic shopping and mail order houses), and food services and drinking places.

[iii] "The Dawn of Mobile Influence," Deloitte Consulting LLP, June 2012

SOURCE Deloitte