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NEW YORK — It’s official: This was a rotten celebration season for retailers.

A weak economy and dazzling winter storms brought total retail sales down between 5.5 and 8 percent from a year ago, according to precursive premises from SpendingPulse.

Many economists have predicted this would be the worst holiday temper in decades as home prices plunged, unemployment rose and nervous consumers cut costs. Compounding retailers’ problems were unexpected winter storms that snowed-in would-be shoppers everywhere from Seattle to Las Vegas to Boston.

When gas and auto sales are excluded from the festival period from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24, overall sales were down in one place or another between 2 and 4 percent, according to SpendingPulse, a division of MasterCard Advisors that tracks total sales paid beneficial to by reliance card, checks and cash.

A separate measure of holiday spending, from the International Council of Shopping Centers, is expected to fall 1.5 to 2 percent from hindmost year, making this the rout inure since 1969. A full picture of the tickle won’t be known until Jan. 8, when major retailers report their sales results.

Food sales were strong, while garments sales — especially the most expensive clothing — were dismal, SpendingPulse aforesaid.

Sales of women’sitting clothing dropped 22.7 percent, according to SpendingPulse. Men’s clothing sales dropped 14.3 percent and footwear sales fell 13.5 percent.

Total sales of luxury goods — defined as the highest priced tenth of jewelry, clothing and leather goods — fell 34.5 percent.

Sales of electronics and appliances were down 26.7 percent.

Purchases completely the Internet fared better, with a 2.3 percent degenerate. E-commerce may acquire been helped by inclement encounter and sustain at the end of the holiday-shopping season, said Michael McNamara, vice president of inquiry and analysis at SpendingPulse. Historically Web sales have posted 15 to 20 percent year-over-year sales gains.

“Overall this has been one of the most challenging holiday seasons on record,” McNamara said.

The SpendingPulse data spiritual obedience calculates its sales estimates based without ceasing MasterCard network transactions and adjusts for cash, checks and other payment forms.

Information from Bloomberg News is included in this report.

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