PURCHASE, N.Y.—Total retail sales—excluding autos—will swell 5% this holiday season, with e-commerce sales jumping 20% over the same period last year, according to the latest Mastercard Spending Pulse report.
The report reinforces what many already know: the way consumers buy and make buying decisions has evolved, according to Mastercard.
"In-store shopping, online purchasing and blended experiences, such as 'buy online/pick up in store' are all on the menu," said Mastercard in a WWD report. "In particular, commerce via social media platforms and other emerging business models are reshaping the face of marketing and sales. Consumers are looking at what's in their pockets, and they're finding their phones as well as their wallets, with about 80% of purchase decisions being affected by mobile."