With lockdowns behind them and borders easing, Australians are planning to spend billions this Easter—the first holiday period in two years where people can travel largely free of CCP virus restrictions, a survey from Australia’s peak retail body reveals. “Australians have had their travel restricted through the pandemic, but with the borders opened and safety…
Australians to Spend Big in First COVID Restriction Free Holiday in 2 Years
Beijing Kills Holiday Spirit as It Tightens Grip on Society
News Analysis China cancelled Christmas this year, claiming that it was damaging traditional Chinese culture, and warned its people to avoid Western influence. This is just the latest step in Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s new policy of tightening social control, while turning China inward. Christmas celebrations first became popular in the 1990s, largely among young…
Weather, Not Omicron, Taking the Biggest Bite out of Canadian Airline Schedules
CALGARY—Canadian air travelers are experiencing an uptick in flight cancellations this holiday season, but airlines say weather is a bigger factor than COVID-19. According to airline data company Cirium, Canada’s largest airlines canceled hundreds of flights between Dec. 22 and Dec. 26 of this year. Flair Airlines canceled nine percent of its scheduled flights during…
World Stock Prices Gain on Strong US Holiday Sales
WASHINGTON—Global stock markets rose on Monday and oil prices eased as investors hailed strong U.S. holiday season sales and some grew less fearful about economic damage from the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Still, fears that the pandemic could hurt economic growth pushed gold prices to the highest in more than a week despite pressure from…
Holiday Retail Sales Rise 8.5 Percent as Online Shopping Booms
Retail sales rose 8.5 percent during this year’s holiday shopping season from Nov. 1 to Dec. 24, powered by soaring e-commerce sales, a report by Mastercard Inc. said on Sunday. E-commerce sales jumped 11 percent in this year’s holiday shopping season, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse report, yet again underscoring the COVID-19 pandemic’s role in transforming customers’…
Personality Test: Which Christmas Movie Are You?
Inflation Squeezes Holiday Budgets for Low-Income Shoppers
NEW YORK—Emarilis Velazquez is paying higher prices on everything from food to clothing. Her monthly grocery bill has ballooned from $650 to almost $850 in recent months. To save money, she looks for less expensive cuts of meat and has switched to a cheaper detergent. She also clips coupons and shops for her kids’ clothing…
Champagne Problems: Alcohol Authorities in Canada Warn of Holiday Liquor Shortages
Canada is facing alcohol shortages ahead of the holidays due to supply chain issues, a situation prompting some provincial liquor authorities to urge customers to shop early—or be prepared to try a new libation. Supply chain experts say the inventory crunch stems from issues with production, transportation and demand. Yet with much of the backlog…
Damaged Parks, Reduced Holiday Travel Among Impacts of Flood on BC Tourism
VANCOUVER—Parts of British Columbia’s tourism industry are facing another uphill battle with an uncertain recovery horizon after this year’s damaging storms. Some attractions and landmarks were seriously damaged by flooding in November, while highways mangled by mudslides mean some operators will go without the typical holiday bump to their bottom line. Walt Judas, CEO of…
Which 2 Stores Have the Cheapest Groceries This Holiday Season?
Inflation has been one of the biggest concerns among investors this holiday season, particularly when it comes to rising grocery prices. Bank of America recently conducted a food retailer pricing study in the city of Nashville to identify which food retailers are hiking prices the most and determine where consumers can still find the lowest…
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