Back-to-School U.S. Retail Sales Expected to Grow 5.5%* Compared to Last Year, According to Mastercard SpendingPulse - Seite 2

• Apparel Refresh: While athleisure was the fashion statement of 2020, this year brings the diversification of the wardrobe as in-person schooling, reunions and other events drive consumers to make their social debuts in style. Apparel is expected to grow 78.2% YOY / 11.3% YO2Y.
• Department Store Shopping Returns: Department Stores, outdoor shopping centers and malls offer a fresh change of scenery for shoppers. We forecast a 25.3% YOY / 9.5% YO2Y increase in the Department Store sector as they rebound from last year’s dip in foot traffic. Buy online, pick-up in store as well as technologies such as contactless will remain important as consumers continue to seek low-contact experiences.
• Tech Upgrade: If we learned one thing this past year, it’s that technology keeps us connected. With many states and schools determining the virtual/in-person cadence, we anticipate Electronics will be up 13.0% YOY / 9.6% YO2Y.

Building on Ongoing Retail Momentum:

The anticipated back-to-school sales growth is a continuation of ongoing retail sales momentum, with May marking the eighth consecutive month of Total Retail Sales growth*. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, U.S. retail sales excluding automotive and gasoline, increased 12.2% year-over-year in May, and 10.2% compared to May 2019. Online sales in May grew 1.1% and 94.8% respectively, compared to the same periods.

Mastercard SpendingPulse U.S. Snapshot – May 2021
	Sales Growth May 2021 vs. 2020	Sales Growth May 2021 vs. 2019
Total Retail Sales (ex. Auto and Gas)	+12.2%	+10.2%
Total Retail Sales (ex. Auto)	+16.4%	+9.9%
E-commerce Sales	+1.1%	+94.8%
By Sector
Apparel	+75.9%	+14.7%
Department Stores	+212.0%	+4.2%
Furniture & Furnishings	+22.5%	+20.2%