Payment-processing company Moneris Solutions reported that Christmas retail transactions at the retail counters across Canada increased for some categories, despite a difficult enviornment. Moneris reported that department and apparel store sales made significant gains in December, while discount stores suffered the steepest decline in credit- and debit-card spending out of all the categories that it tracks. Jewelry retailers were the least volatile performers in December 2008, with total transactions down only 1 percent from December 2007.

The average total spend per transaction, across all merchant categories, decreased 3 percent, which Moneris attributed to steep discounts and lower gasoline prices. Total sales in Canada grew 2 percent in December from one year ago.

“For months, there have been signs of a softening retail market, as Canadians become more conscious and restrained in their spending habits,” said Brian Green, senior vice president of Moneris Solutions. “Our national, multi-method-of-payment data proves that, in fact, Canadians continued to spend during the holiday season and the number of transactions actually rose over previous year. These numbers offer merchants and consumers alike a reliable pulse on the Canadian economy.”

For the second and third weeks of December, Moneris reported a 21 percent increase in transactions at jewelry retailers. Consumer charges at department stores were up 9 percent for the holiday season, and apparel store sales climbed 6 percent. “Astonishingly, discount stores failed to live up to the growth predicted by some retail analysts and actually suffered a decline of 11 percent in credit and debit card dollar volume,”  Moneris noted.

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