--- title: Holiday Season... description: Holiday Season... --- - [ BLOG ](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/) - [ CLIENT LOGIN ](https://www.ggaretirement.com/client-login) [![gga-retirement-header-logo](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/hubfs/gga-retirement-header-logo.jpg) ](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/2013/12/02/holiday-season#) ** - [ FOR ADVISORS ](https://www.ggaretirement.com/for-advisors) - [ FOR EMPLOYERS ](https://www.ggaretirement.com/for-employers) - [ OUR TEAM ](https://www.ggaretirement.com/our-team) - [ 401K PEP ](https://www.ggaretirement.com/401k-pep) - [ CONTACT US ](https://www.ggaretirement.com/contact) - [ REQUEST CONSULTATION ](https://resources.ggaretirement.com/request-consultation) # Blog ## Holiday Season... Posted: Dec 2, 2013 3:48:49 PM As the economy enters the final stretch of the year, it is time to discuss the holiday sale season.  A little known fact: roughly 1/3 of all retail sales for the year occur in the last quarter, and retail sales makes up about 2/3 of US GDP. Due to the lateness of Thanksgiving, there are about 5-6 less shopping days.  Wall Street is not expecting a robust holiday season and the data coming out of Black Friday supports their hypothesis with sales coming in down 2.7% even with foot traffic coming in up almost 2% from last year.  However, there are more people shopping on line and it remains to be seen were this takes retail sales numbers.  We do expect margins to be squeezed at the retail level due to the enormity of competition and discounting. Additionally, we received some good economic data this morning as the ISM non-manufacturing data came in ahead of expectations, but the feel of the market is lukewarm at this point, as P/E ratios are already pushing the limits.  We do expect a pullback,  it is just a question of when? You can follow Granite Group Advisors on [LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/company/granite-group-advisors?trk=cp_followed_name_granite-group-advisors) and learn more about our Corporate Retirement Services and Wealth Management in our [Website](http://www.granitegroupadvisors.com/). [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/6431732/8084df1e-4fae-435d-9084-3e241986d324.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/6431732/8084df1e-4fae-435d-9084-3e241986d324) ### Posts by Tag - [401k (28)](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/tag/401k) - [Business (22)](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/tag/business) - [Retirement (15)](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/tag/retirement) - [Retirement Plans (12)](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/tag/retirement-plans) - [Covid-19 (10)](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/tag/covid-19) - [Online financial tool (3)](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/tag/online-financial-tool) - [Technology (3)](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/tag/technology) - [financial advisor (3)](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/tag/financial-advisor) - [Insider (2)](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/tag/insider) - [ERISA (1)](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/tag/erisa) - [Market Outlook (1)](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/tag/market-outlook) - [News Update (1)](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/tag/news-update) - [Nonprofits (1)](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/tag/nonprofits) - [Target Date Funds (1)](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/tag/target-date-funds) [See all](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/2013/12/02/holiday-season#) ## OUR CONTACTS **Address** 1 Landmark Square  Stamford, CT 06901 (Suite 426) **Telephone ** [(203) 210-7814](tel:203-210-7814) **Fax** [(203) 403-9481](tel:203-210-7814) **Email ** [info@granitegroupadvisors.com](mailto:mrosenthal@granitegroupadvisors.com) ## OUR COMMUNICATIONS Join Our Mailing List to See Our Blog Updates [RETIREMENT LOGIN](https://www.ggaretirement.com/client-login) [**](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/2013/12/02/holiday-season#) © 2026 by Granite Group Advisors. All rights reserved. - [Privacy Policy](https://www.ggaretirement.com/privacy-policy) - [Disclaimer](https://www.ggaretirement.com/disclaimerpolicy) [![](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/hubfs/ThemeNov2019/flags/usa-flag.png)](https://www.ggaretirement.com/) [![](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/hubfs/ThemeNov2019/flags/netherland-flag.png)](https://www.ggaretirement.com/copy-of-home-spanish) [![](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/hubfs/ThemeNov2019/flags/spain-flag.png)](https://www.ggaretirement.com/copy-of-home) [![](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/hubfs/ThemeNov2019/flags/china-flag.png)](https://www.ggaretirement.com/copy-of-home-portugese) [![](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/hubfs/ThemeNov2019/flags/brazil-flag.png)](https://www.ggaretirement.com/copy-of-home-french) [![](https://blog.ggaretirement.com/hubfs/ThemeNov2019/flags/france-flag.png)](https://www.ggaretirement.com/copy-of-home-russian)