US holiday shoppers fund a revival for bricks-and-mortar stores

For every retailer that closed a store in 2019, five more opened in 2021, according to research and advisory firm IHL Group

Despite a global pandemic, inflation being at a decades-high and supply chain issues around the country, Americans are still shopping this holiday season, and not just online.

Retail sales have been soaring during the pandemic as stimulus payments, a low unemployment rate and savings from spending less on travel and going out have encouraged Americans to buy more things. In November 2021, Americans spent 18% more than they had in November 2020. Experts predicted that this holiday shopping season will be the highest on record.