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Florida retail sales make a significant increase during the holiday season

FL Holiday sales
FL Holiday sales
Posted at 7:52 PM, Jan 05, 2018
and last updated 2018-01-05 15:12:53-05

(WTXL) - Whether you shopped online or in-stores this holiday season, the money you spent helped Florida businesses reach record sales.

According to the Florida Retail Federation, sales for traditional brick and mortar stores increased, on top of record growth in online shopping. 

Overall sales numbers were actually higher than expected up between five and six percent nationally.

The sales increase is the largest year-over-year gain since 2011.

According to James Miller, from the Florida Retail Federation, sales during the holiday shopping season typically make up 20 to 40 percent of a retailer's total business for the year.

He says technology and appliance stores saw the largest bump in business this holiday season.

Florida retailers say the recent holiday shopping season was very good for business, with increased sales for traditional brick and mortar stores, as well.

Overall sales numbers were up between five and six percent nationally, surpassing the projected three to three and a half percent increase.

He says Cyber Monday sales reached an all-time high at 6.6 billion dollars nationally.

Some of the most popular gifts for 2017 were Iphones, 4k TVs, and Star Wars related toys.

Both Macy's and JC Penney reported holiday sales growth, an encouraging sign as traditional retailers continue looking for ways to compete with online retailers.

Macy's said sales at established stores rose one percent in the November-December period, but it still expects an annual sales drop at established stores of about 2.4 to 2.7 percent.