Stores are pushing deals and incentives like free shipping for the final week of the holiday shopping season, as new numbers show people are spending at a bit of a slower pace than last year.
Retailers pared down their inventories and offered more exclusive merchandise in a bid to avoid having to offer big discounts that shoppers have come to expect. But customers seem willing to wait, and stores are once again counting on last-minute buyers for the final stretch, particularly Saturday, which could be the busiest day of the year.
Research firm First Data says retail spending is up 2 per cent, slightly slower the 2.4 per cent gain at this time last year, with the rate of online spending far outpacing buying at physical stores from Oct. 29 through Monday.
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