Retail sales ended 2025 on a strong note, with both sales and foot traffic increasing on a year-over-year basis, according to the latest research from Colliers.
In its U.S. retail foot traffic and sales report for December, Colliers reported that retail sales rose 3.8% year-over-year in December, the best rate since 2022. Colliers reported, too, that core retail climbed 4.3% in December of this year when compared to the same month a year earlier. Foot traffic rose on a year-over-year basis, too, increasing by 2.8%.
Volumes rose a modest 1.4%, signaling healthy consumer turnout despite rising credit usage and continued shifts to value channels. Online sales surged 6.7%, fueled by Cyber Monday and deal-driven behavior, Colliers reported.
Apparel sales rose 5.4% in December, aided by layering trends and higher spending on formalwear. Clothing foot traffic grew 3.27%, with dwell times holding near 40 minutes, evidence that apparel remained a popular and practical gifting category during the holidays.
Beauty retailers posted an 8.1% sales jump, among the strongest across retail. In contrast, furniture sales fell 3.7%, as consumers prioritized gifts over big-ticket purchases. Foot traffic mirrored this softness, with furniture store visits down 2.64%, and shoppers spending less time in-store, with an average dwell time of 39.51 minutes.
Theaters and music venues saw a 5.25% rise in visits while maintaining high dwell times of 148 minutes. Restaurant visits dipped slightly (2.59%), and grocery foot traffic rose 4.41%, as consumers remained selective about where to spend on food during the festive season.
Many individual retailers turned in strong performances in December, too, with Hobby Lobby leading the way. Colliers reported that this retailer’s sales rose 17.6% in December when compared to the same month a year earlier.
Other strong performers included Citi Trends, which saw December sales rise 11.8% on a year-over-year basis; Michaels, an increase of 10.9%; Dollar Tree, 10.9%; Goodwill, 9.9%; Trader Joe’s, 9.7%; and Ross Dress for Less, 9.5%.
