SHOPPERS EXPECTED TO SPEND MORE THIS HOLIDAY

Shoppers, buoyed by low unemployment and a slight uptick in wages, should make this a jolly holiday season for retailers. The National Retail Federation forecasts sales in the last two months of this year should rise between 4.3 and 4.8 percent compared to 2017. Not counting purchases of cars, gas or meals at restaurants, shoppers are expected to spend between $717 billion and $720.89 billion.