CB11-FF.24 

Dec. 1, 2011 

The 2011 Holiday Season 

The holiday season is a time for gathering and celebrating with friends and family, gift-giving, 

reflection and thanks. To commemorate this time of year, the U.S. Census Bureau presents the 

following holiday-related facts and figures from its collection of statistics. 

Rush to the Stores

$27.2 billion 

Retail sales by the nation’s department stores (including leased departments) in December 

2010. This represented a 44 percent jump from the previous month (when retail sales, many 

holiday-related, registered $18.8 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 2010 were 

clothing stores (33 percent); radio, TV and other electronics stores (44 percent); sporting goods 

stores (58 percent); bookstores (92 percent); and jewelry stores (113 percent). 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Service Sector Statistics <http://www.census.gov/retail> 

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 and inventory estimates have not been adjusted to account for seasonal or 

pricing variations.

14%

The percentage of total 2010 sales for department stores (including leased departments) in 

December. For jewelry stores, the percentage was 20 percent. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Service Sector Statistics <http://www.census.gov/retail> 

 

24%

The growth in inventories by our nation’s department stores (excluding leased departments) from 

Aug. 31 to Nov. 30, 2010. Thanks to the holiday crowds, inventories plummeted by 22 percent in 

December. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Service Sector Statistics <http://www.census.gov/retail> 
 

$34 billion

Value of retail sales by electronic shopping and mail-order houses in December 2010 ─ the 

highest total for any month last year. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Service Sector Statistics <http://www.census.gov/retail> 

21,891

The number of electronic shopping and mail-order houses in business in 2009. These businesses, 

which employed 320,721 workers, are a popular source of holiday gifts (NAICS code 45411). 

If you’re not sure where to do your shopping, choices of retail establishments abound: In 2009, 

there were 150,205 clothing and clothing accessories stores (NAICS code 448); 8,663 

department stores (NAICS code 4521); 8,424 hobby, toy and game shops (NAICS code 45112); 

27,738 gift, novelty and souvenir shops (NAICS code 45322); 21,628 sporting goods stores 

(NAICS code 45111); 24,973 jewelry stores (NAICS code 44831); and 9,390 book stores 

(NAICS code 451211) across the nation. The figures shown are for locations with paid 

employees and do not include nonemployer firms (i.e. firms with no paid employees). 

NAICS – North American Industry Classification System 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 

<http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/index.html>

Christmas Trees and Decorations 

$983 million 

The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China between January and 

September 2011. 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 ($79.7 

million worth) during the same period. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreigntrade/www/>

Where the Toys are ... Made 

88 

Number of establishments around the country that primarily manufactured dolls and stuffed toys 

in 2009. California led the nation with 15 locations. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code 339931, 

<http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/index.html> 

579

The number of locations that primarily produced games, toys and children’s vehicles in 2009; 

they employed 7,858 workers. California led the nation with 98 establishments. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code 339932, 

<http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/index.html> 
 

$2.5 billion 

The value of U.S. toy imports including stuffed toys (including dolls), puzzles and electric trains 

from China between January and September 2011. 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 ($24.6 million), sports footwear ($253.8 million) and basketballs 

($38.9 million). China leads Thailand as the leading supplier of ice skates ($17.7 million versus 

$9.8 million), with Canada ranking third ($4.2 million). 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics <http://www.census.gov/foreigntrade/www/> 

Holiday Names 

Place names associated with the holiday season include North Pole, Alaska (population 2,117); 

Santa Claus, Ind. (2,481); Santa Claus, Ga. (165); Noel, Mo. (1,832); and — if you know about 

reindeer — the village of Rudolph, Wis. (439) and Dasher, Ga. (912). There is Snowflake, Ariz. 

(5,590) and a dozen places named Holly, including Holly Springs, Miss. (7,699) and Mount 

Holly, N.C. (13,656). 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census <http://factfinder2.census.gov/>

 

Hanukkah and Kwanzaa 

50% 

Proportion of the nation’s spuds produced in Idaho and Washington in 2010. Potato latkes are 

always a crowd pleaser during Hanukkah. 

Source: National Agriculture Statistics Service <http://www.nass.usda.gov/> 

<http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/Pota/Pota-09-29-2011.pdf> 

$1.5 billion 

The value of product shipments of candles in 2009 by the nation’s manufacturers. Many of these 

candles are lit during Hanukkah and Kwanzaa celebrations. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of Manufacturers, NAICS Code 3399995; 

<http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DatasetMainPageServlet?_program=EAS&_submenuId=&_

lang=en&_ts=> 

New Year’s Eve and Day 

More than 312 million 

The nation’s projected population as we ring in the New Year. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates 

<http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.html>. 
 

A list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features series: 

African-American History Month (February) Labor Day 

Super Bowl Grandparents Day 

Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) 

Women’s History Month (March) Unmarried and Single Americans Week 

Irish-American Heritage Month (March)/ Halloween (Oct. 31) 

 St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month 

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May) (November) 

Older Americans Month (May) Veterans Day (Nov. 11) 

Cinco de Mayo (May 5) Thanksgiving Day 

Mother’s Day The Holiday Season (December) 

Hurricane Season Begins (June 1) 

Father’s Day 

The Fourth of July (July 4) 

Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26) 

Back to School (August) 

Editor’s note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling 

variability and other sources of error. 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>.