The 2024 Winter Holiday Season
The holiday season is a time to celebrate, reflect and give thanks. The U.S. Census Bureau presents the following facts and figures along with wishes for a healthy, happy holiday season.
The following facts are possible thanks to the invaluable responses to U.S. Census Bureau surveys. We appreciate the public’s cooperation as we measure America’s people, places and economy.
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$16.6 billion
The estimated retail sales for the nation’s department stores in December 2023.
Source:
13.6%
The estimated percentage that December sales accounted for of total hobby, toy and game store sales in 2023.
Source:
$131.1 billion
The estimated value of retail sales by electronic shopping and mail-order houses in December 2023, the highest estimated total for any month last year.
Source:
$48.3 billion
The fourth quarter 2023 seasonally adjusted after-tax profits for U.S. retail trade corporations with assets of $50 million and over, up $4.4 billion from the $44.0 recorded in the third quarter of 2023.
Source:
$2.82 billion
The value of U.S. imports of Christmas decorations from China for 2023. China led the way with 88.0% of the U.S. total imports of Christmas decorations.
Source: International Trade Statistics, Harmonized System Codes 9505.10 (Christmas decorations)
$309.4 million
The value of U.S. imports of LED Christmas tree lights for 2023. Cambodia led the way with 66.0% of the total U.S. imports of LED Christmas tree lights.
Source: International Trade Statistics, Harmonized System Code 9405.31 (LED Christmas Tree Lighting Strings)
503 establishments
The number of employer establishments nationwide that primarily produced dolls, toys and games in 2022, an increase of 8 establishments from 2021 (495 establishments); they employed 6,377 workers in the pay period including March 12, an increase of 673 employees from 2021 (5,704 employees). California led the nation with 75 establishments in 2022.
Source: County Business Patterns
$1.04 billion
The value of U.S. imports of tapered candles in 2023. Most of these came from Vietnam, representing 53.0% of America’s imported tapered candles, followed by Canada with 15.5%.
Source: International Trade Statistics, Harmonized System Code 3406 (Candles, tapers, and the like)
Holiday Names
There are many holiday-sounding places in the United States. For example, more than a dozen areas have Holly in their names, including Holly Pond, Ala. (860); Holly Grove, Ark. (443); Holly, Colo. (822); Holly Hill, Fla. (13,075); Holly Springs, Ga. (19,540); Holly Village, Mich. (5,938); Holly Springs, Miss. (6,732); Mount Holly, N.C. (population 18,373); and Holiday Hills, Ill. (607).
There’s also Snowflake, Ariz. (6,670); Santa Claus, Ind. (2,609); North Pole, Alaska (2,427); Noel, Mo. (2,180); Joy, Ill. (364); and — if you know about reindeer — Dasher, Ga. (926), and Rudolph, Wis. (431). And don’t forget, Unity, Ore. (43), and Garland, Texas (243,470)!
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The following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features series:
Black (African American) History Month (February)
Women's History Month (March)
Irish-American Heritage Month (March)
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May)
The Fourth of July (July 4)
Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act (July 26)
Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)
Halloween (Oct. 31)
American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month (November)
Veterans Day (Nov. 11)
Thanksgiving Day/Holiday Season (November-December)
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; or e-mail: [email protected].
Profile America's Facts for Features provides statistics related to observances and holidays not covered by Stats for Stories. For observances not listed below, visit our Stats for Stories web page.
Profile America's Stats for Stories provides links to timely story ideas highlighting the Census Bureau's newsworthy statistics that relate to current events, observances, holidays, and anniversaries. The story ideas are intended to assist the media in story mining and producing content for their respective audiences.