Several retailers are on the rise after MasterCard Spending Pulse, which tracks online and in-store spending, reported that holiday sales increased 4.9% this year, the largest year-over-year increase since 2011.

HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON: MasterCard SpendingPulse has reported that holiday sales increased 4.9% this year, setting a new record for dollars spent. This is the largest year-over-year increase since 2011 and a further indication of consumer confidence. Online shopping also saw large gains of 18.1% compared to 2016, boosted by a late-season rally. The SpendingPulse report details holiday shopping from November 1 through December 24 and covers retail sales across all payment types, including cash and check. According to the report, electronics and appliances increased 7.5%, the strongest growth of the last 10 years, while the home furniture and furnishings category grew 5.1%, as did home improvement. Specialty apparel and department stores saw moderate gains, which is particularly impressive given recent store closings. Additionally, MasterCard SpendingPulse noted that retailers' heavy early-season promotions paid off, with the first three weeks of November seeing significant jumps. Shoppers were also still spending late into the season, with December 23 next to Black Friday in terms of single-day spending. This was a boon to certain categories, including jewelry, which grew 5.9% driven by last-minute sales.