In 2008, the U.S. Postal Service delivered an estimated 19 billion cards, letters, and packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas. In December 2008, despite a devastatingly bad economy, the nation's department stores reported $28.2 billion in retail sales—14 percent of the overall sales for 2008.
An additional $24 billion was spent via electronic shopping or mail-order houses. U.S. Christmas tree farmers reported $410 million in sales in 2008. To decorate those trees, over $470 million was spent to import decorations from China. The value of U.S. toy imports from China between January and August 2009 totals $4.3 billion.
"Facts for Features: The 2009 Holiday Season," Census.gov (10-29-09)
