By The Numbers

December retail

$31.1 billion: Retail sales by the nation’s department stores in December 2003 – a 48 percent jump from the previous month

14: Percentage of total 2003 department store sales that took place in December. For jewelry stores, it was 24 percent.

$14.4 billion: Value of electronic shopping and mail-order sales in December 2003 – easily the greatest amount for any month that year.

95: Percentage increase in December 2003 sales from the previous month for the nation’s bookstores.

1.8 million: Number of people employed by the nation’s department stores in December 2003 – 44,600 more than in November and 159,900 more than in October.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau