“Happy Holidays” is the politically correct greeting for many retailers these days, but isn’t it incredibly hypocritical for businesses to take immense profits from a holiday they refuse to call by its proper name?
In fact, we all benefit from the economic powerhouse of the Christmas season regardless of religious affiliation.
What was once a season composed predominately of religious celebrations, the gathering together with family and friends, rejoicing and good cheer has become an economic necessity.
The gift-giving season can literally bestow economic prosperity on many industries or destroy an otherwise financially stable year. And although other religious occasions have also become gift-giving occasions, it is an economic fact that Christmas is the major driver all year for many retailers and other businesses.
The numbers are mind-boggling. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, December accounted for 14 percent of all department store retail sales in 2005, totalling $31.7 billion. This was a 47 percent jump from the previous month, and the largest month-to-month increase for 2005.
And it wasn’t just the department stores that enjoyed big sales increases between November and December last year. Book stores were up 96 percent, clothing stores 49 percent, radio, TV and other electronics stores 54 percent, sporting goods stores 67 percent and jewelry stores were up a whopping 174 percent. Apparently, Santa likes a bit of “bling” under the Christmas tree.
Christmas not only drives retail sales for gift-giving, but also affects an amazing number of ancillary industries as well.
In 2004, the total shipments of toys, dolls and games from toy manufacturers alone added up to a total value of $3.2 billion.
This year, the U.S. Postal Service estimates that 20 billion letters, packages and cards will be delivered between Thanksgiving and Christmas. That’s a remarkable amount of postage. Dec. 18 is predicted to be the busiest mailing day for cards and letters, while Dec. 20 should be the heaviest delivery day for packages.
Even farming has gotten into the action by cashing in on Christmas. No longer do we head into the forest with an ax to chop down a Christmas tree. Instead, many of us drive over to the nearest Christmas tree lot to choose a tree that’s been grown specifically for holiday decorating.
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the nation’s Christmas tree farmers received $485 million from tree sales in 2005. Oregon was the leading beneficiary of Christmas tree sales, garnering $126 million.
But don’t be fooled, Christmas is not just an American money-making machine. Many other countries have joined this capitalistic enterprise. China, for example, is the leading exporter of Christmas tree ornaments. According the U.S. Census, China exported $605 million worth of ornaments between January and August this year.
Of course, China profits tremendously from the toy industry, as well. Between January and August 2006, the U.S. imported $639 million worth of stuffed toys (excluding dolls) from China. And who would have thought that roller skates would represent $82 million in revenue to China, or puzzles at $49 million, and electric trains $65 million? And this year, China beat Canada as the biggest supplier of ice skates, with Thailand sliding in at third place and a total of $4.9 million.
When one thinks of Christmas, children’s toys automatically come to mind. But do we think of toys in terms of employment opportunities? In 2004, according to the U.S. Census, there were 116 doll and stuffed toy manufacturers in the U.S., which employed 2,386 workers, and 723 manufacturers of primarily games, toys and children’s vehicles employing some 16,465 workers. California led the nation in both of these manufacturing categories.
Department stores also contribute heavily to the job market. In December 2005 alone, 1.8 million people were employed by these establishments, up 46,000 from November and 186,000 from October. And this is just one example of the many industries that add employees to their payroll for the Christmas season.
It’s undeniable that Christmas represents huge business. Yet saying “Merry Christmas” has become politically incorrect. Even for non-Christians who want to put all religious connotations aside, aren’t the pure economics of the season enough to earn Christmas a bit more respect and recognition than “Happy Holidays?”
Kathleen Antrim is a columnist for The Examiner newspapers, and writes for NewsMax Magazine. For more information log on to: www.kathleenantrim.com.
