Businesses during holiday shopping season are predicted to see around a 4 percent increase in sales from last year despite Thanksgiving coming late in the season.
Director for the Center for Education and Research in Retail at the Kelley School of Business John Talbott says that this is typical and the later shopping date will not significantly affect the economy.
And he says while there is not a particular toy that is popular this year, they are still integral to Christmas shopping and the economy.
He says that what constitutes a toy changes each year, especially with tech items being in high demand.
“Toys definitely matter," he says. "I believe, when I looked at the data the other day, I still think it’s the number two category. Now what’s a toy? Does a smart phone or a Nintendo count as a toy?”
He says more people are buying experiences, such as a night out or travel, rather than tangible items.
He says that people are further along in their holiday shopping than they were this time last year because many stores also sell their physical inventory online.
Stores like Toys ”R” Us, which filed for bankruptcy last year, are partnering with Target to do just that.
Talbott says that technology heavily influences how well a business or corporation operates.