Strong economy buoys big sales

Holiday purchases jump more than 5 percent, topping $850 billion.

NEW YORK — Americans buoyed by a strong economy pushed holiday sales growth to a six-year high.

Retail sales rose 5.1 percent between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24 from a year ago, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracked spending online and in stores across all payment types, including those who paid by cash or check. Total sales topped $850 billion this year, Mastercard said.

“From shopping aisles to online carts, consumer confidence translated into holiday cheer for retail,” said Steve Sadove, a senior adviser at Mastercard and the former CEO of the department store chain Saks.

Online sales continued to grow, up more than 19 percent from a year ago. Mastercard said online sales made up 13 percent of total retail sales. Mastercard said its holiday sales increased 5.1 percent, the strongest growth in the last six years.

Amazon.com reported a record-breaking holiday season. In the U.S. alone, more than 1 billion items were shipped for free using Prime, Amazon said in a statement Wednesday.

Clothing sold well this year — up nearly 8 percent from last year, the biggest growth for apparel sales since 2010, Mastercard said. Home furniture sales rose 2.3 percent, while electronics and appliances slipped 0.7 percent.

Shoppers spent less at department stores, which Mastercard said was partly due to store closings. But shoppers did head to the websites of department stores, where sales rose 10.2 percent, Mastercard said. Traditional retailers have been updating their websites and smartphone apps, as well as making it easier for shoppers to buy online and then pick up their items in store.

This year, UPS said it expects to deliver an average of more than 31 million parcels a day during the holidays and anticipates a peak-season total of about 800 million packages to rise 5 percent compared with last year’s tally.

The couriers are bracing for a second wave of business as people begin returning gifts in January. UPS said it had 1.5 million returns, its highest for the season, on Dec. 19.

DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / AP Shoppers finish up their Christmas gift lists Monday at the Cherry Creek Mall in Denver as discount placards stand in the window of a clothing store.