Americans are buying big-ticket items again, giving new hope to retailers ahead of the crucial holiday season. “Consumers were shopping for larger and more expensive products during Labor Day, after slower growth in the first half of the year." The retail industry, which has weathered its share of economic challenges and bankruptcies since the Great Recession, had a particularly good holiday season last year. Online sales at Target.com jumped 41 percent in the most recent quarter, while overall sales growth rose to a 13-year high. Roughly 30 percent of Labor Day orders were placed on a smartphone, compared with 60 percent on desktop computers and 10 percent on tablets.

Source: Washington Post September 13, 2018 10:52 UTC