Share this  
         
  • ​​The National Retail Federation (NRF), the world’s largest retail trade association, projects U.S. consumers will each spend upwards of $720.9 billion this year - up nearly 5% over 2017. 
  • Bloomberg supports this estimate reporting that shoppers have already spent $313 per person over the 3-day period spanning Black Friday through Cyber Monday.
  • Buyers are splurging because of stronger personal income growth, solid labor dynamics and optimistic consumer confidence.
  • CBRE Research calculates that the consumers in the major Texas metros will open their wallets with the same gusto to the sum of $41 billion across three primary holiday categories: gifts; food/décor and gift cards; as well as non-gift purchases such as travel, fuel and services.

U.S. consumers will spend an average of around $1,010 per person during this holiday season, an increase between 4.3% and 4.8% over 2017 reports the National Retail Federation, for a total of $720.9 billion. Deloitte and PwC’s projections are slightly more aggressive, expecting a per capital average of $1,250, an increase of 5% to 5.6% year-over-year, for a total of some $1.1 trillion. Festive sums, indeed.

CBRE Research applied these projection methods to the Texas metros using the NRF’s valuations, a trusted historic source specifically for holiday projections. The NRF projects consumers will spend in three main categories: gifts will comprise about two-thirds of the U.S. total, food/décor/cards around 20% and other non-gift purchases the balance or approximately 15-to-17%.

Lone Star Rising: Holiday Sales to Set New Records

Dallas/Fort Worth tops the spending list (unsurprisingly) for around $16.02 billion. Houston is a close second at $15 billion, followed by San Antonio at $826 million and Austin at $700 million. All in all, these metros total about $41 billion in holiday sales, comprising around 5-6% of all U.S. retail holiday sales.

Greeting Cards, Holly . . . and a Cup of Cheer!

CBRE Research estimates that metro Texans will be paying approximately $8.5 billion in making their 2018 season merry through food, drink and décor and nearly another $6.3 billion on other consumer goods supplementing the season. So it should be a festive one.

Happy Holidays, y’all!  CBRE Research wishes everyone the best of seasons greetings.



 		 DOWNLOAD
THE MARKETFLASH

Robert Kramp 
Director of Research and Analysis - Texas-Oklahoma-Arkansas Region
T 713 577 1715
robert.kramp@cbre.com

 
Visit the Global Research Gateway
Follow CBRE
CBRE Research
 
 
You may also unsubscribe by calling toll-free +1 877 CBRE 330 (+1 877 227 3330).

Please consider the environment before printing this email.

CBRE respects your privacy. A copy of our Privacy Policy is available online. For California Residents, our California Privacy Notice is available here. If you have questions or concerns about our compliance with this policy, please email PrivacyAdministrator@cbre.com or write to Attn: Marketing Department, Privacy Administrator, CBRE, 200 Park Ave. 19-22 Floors, New York, NY 10166.

Address: 8080 Park Lane, Suite 800 Suite 700, Dallas TX 75231

© 2025 CBRE Statistics contained herein may represent a different data set than that used to generate National Vacancy and Availability Index statistics published by CBRE Corporate Communications or CBRE's research and econometric forecasting unit, CBRE Econometric Advisors. Information herein has been obtained from sources believed reliable. While we do not doubt its accuracy, we have not verified it and make no guarantee, warranty or representation about it. It is your responsibility to independently confirm its accuracy and completeness. Any projections, opinions, assumptions or estimates used are for example only and do not represent the current or future performance of the market. This information is designed exclusively for use by CBRE clients, and cannot be reproduced without prior written permission of CBRE.

CBRE and the CBRE logo are service marks of CBRE, Inc. and/or its affiliated or related companies in the United States and other countries. All other marks displayed on this document are the property of their respective owners.

Photos herein are the property of their respective owners. Use of these images without the express written consent of the owner is prohibited.