Article snippet: Those sales also represent a 5.1 percent increase from the 2017 holiday shopping season, according to a report published this month by Mastercard. “A robust shopping season from before Thanksgiving through Christmas has given retailers much to cheer about this year,” the press release announcing the report said. “Online shopping also saw large gains of 19.1 percent compared to 2017.” The Mastercard SpendingPulse report tracked holiday shopping from November 1 through December 24. Key findings reveal that despite weather challenges in some parts of the country, it was a jolly holiday season for retail overall even if the numbers vary based on categories. Mastercard reported: “From shopping aisles to online carts, consumer confidence translated into holiday cheer for retail,” Steve Sadove, senior advisor for Mastercard and former CEO and Chairman of Saks Incorporated said. “By combining the right inventory with the right mix of online versus in-store, many retailers were able to give consumers what they wanted via the right shopping channels.” News4SanAntonio.com reported on the joyous shopping season: “There’s never been a better time to be an American consumer,” Jason Brewer, vice president of communications with the Retail Industry Leaders Association, said in the News4SanAntonio report. “You have so much power at your fingertips to compare prices and to shop around and retailers are meeting that challenge.” Follow Penny Starr on Twitter Link to the full article to read more