![US holiday retail_1227](https://firstmetro.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/US-holiday-retail_1227.jpg)
- U.S. retail sales rose 3.1% between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24, as shoppers looked for last-minute Christmas deals amid big promotions, a Mastercard report showed on Tuesday.
- The increase is lower than the 3.7% growth Mastercard forecast in September and last year’s 7.6% rise as higher interest rates and inflation pressured consumer spending.