Christmas

U.S. Stock Markets Closed on Presidents Day

The global economy is a perpetual motion machine, but U.S. stock markets do take breaks: In addition to the weekends, there are nine holidays on which the stock exchange is shuttered. Here's the list for 2013, as well as the surprising history of Presidents Day.

Despite Strong December Sales, a Mixed Holiday Season for Retail

The retail industry is reporting some much-needed good news in the form of stronger-than-expected December sales figures. But those numbers seem to have come as a result of desperate last-minute discounting, suggesting reduced profit margins and an increasingly hard-to-please American shopper.

Initial Jobless Claims Rise, But Distorted By Holidays

More Americans sought unemployment benefits last week, though the winter holidays likely distorted the data for the second straight week. The Labor Department says weekly applications rose by 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 372,000 in the week ended Dec. 29.

Post-Christmas Deals Abound After Disappointing Retail Season

The day after Christmas is probably not a great day to be hitting the mall. But there are some good sales to be found today and over the next couple of days, and in many cases they're online sales that don't require you to brave the mall. Here are a few to check out.

Last-Minute Christmas Shopping Guide

The kick-off to the holiday season gets earlier every year, but that doesn't mean that consumers are getting better at finishing their shopping early. As the National Retail Federation notes, American consumers typically have about half their holiday shopping left to go in mid-December.

Missed Free Shipping Day? You're Not Out of Luck Yet

Monday was Free Shipping Day, and if you're not done with your holiday shopping, you could be forgiven for thinking you'd missed out on your last chance to get free shipping on gifts. But don't fret: There are still ways you can dodge those pesky shipping fees.

Free Shipping Day Is Today: The 10 Best Deals You'll Find Online

Today is Free Shipping Day, and almost 1,600 retailers are offering shipping deals to online shoppers. It's also the last day they'll guarantee regular delivery by Christmas Eve. We asked the folks behind Free Shipping Day to share their 10 favorite deals of the day: Here are their choices.

Don't Wait Until Super Saturday: This Weekend's Best Deals

Next weekend brings Super Saturday -- the last Saturday before Christmas, and one of the busiest shopping days of the year. If you don't want to get stuck in the mob scene, you should finish your shopping sooner -- like now. To help, we've rounded up some of the best deals on offer this weekend.

I'll Be Broke for Christmas: The Holiday Cash Quiz!

To get a better feeling for the curious flow of Christmas cash, we reviewed at some of the biggest-sellers, biggest-tickets, and most traditional holiday treats. If you've ever wondered about the money underlying the season, take a peek at this Christmas cash quiz!

How to Pick the Perfect Gift Cards This Christmas

U.S. shoppers will buy $110 billion worth of gift cards this year, and nobody's complaining about it: Gift cards are the most-desired present of the season. But you still have to pick the right gift card for each recipient, so we asked plastic experts for their best advice.

The 4 Rules of Regifting: Etiquette Guru Explains When It's OK

Regifting: Lots of us do it, and many of us feel a bit guilty about it, even though polls show people are generally OK with receiving regifts. But does regifting really pass the holiday season etiquette test? We asked Jodi R.R. Smith of etiquette consultancy Mannersmith.

Holiday Shopping Calendar: Your List of the Best Days to Buy

Black Friday has been around for decades, but in the last several years, the holiday shopping season has gained a number of additional "special" shopping days. So if you're looking for the right days for deals, (or when to avoid the crowds) here's a run-down of all the retail deal days worth knowing.

Extreme Shoppers Score $8,000 of Stuff for $1,300

How's this for holiday savings: Bringing home a haul of remote control cars, tablets, coats and boots worth $8,000 for just $1,300. That's what extreme couponer Joni Crothers and her "coupon-tourage" accomplished on a Black Friday shopping spree to fulfill the wish lists of 16 children in need.

Black Friday Sales: Your Big Guide to Deals, Stores and Times

Black Friday sales circulars for several major retailers are already out online, and the deals look tempting. And at some chains, you won't even have to wait until Friday. We'll update as we learn more, but here's the scoop on the deals and sale times that we know so far.

Secret Santas Share the Wealth, $100 at a Time

You don't have to be a billionaire -- nor a jolly, white-bearded figure out of folklore -- to make the holiday season remarkably sweeter for a stranger. Or a lot of strangers. Over the past few years, ordinary people across the country have been taking up the calling of Larry Stewart, the original Secret Santa.

How to Dodge 4 Expensive Holiday Disasters

An APA poll a few years back revealed that 80% of Americans expect to be stressed during the holiday season. One source of that stress? The unexpected costs that creep up on us in December. Here are some tips to sidestep some of those pricey problems.

Give Painlessly: How to Be More Charitable With Less

The holidays are a time to give, but the current economy is really hurting charities. Still, just because money's tight doesn't mean you have to give up on giving: There are several new ways to be generous without opening your wallet -- and some even save you money when you donate.

10 Companies That Owe Amazon a Big 'Thank You'

Amazon's holidays are off to a great start, but with its stock trading north of 100 times earnings, AMZN shares could be the one thing you don't want to buy from the online retailer. Instead, consider these companies that are riding on the coattails of the online shopping boom.

7 Hidden Dangers to Your Holiday Finances

Amid all the good cheer, the holiday season hides a sobering number of financial pitfalls -- and not just ones that involve overspending. Here's a look at seven dangers you might not have considered, along with steps you can take to make sure your holidays are more happy than hazardous.

Salvation Army's Kettles Get Mobile App Upgrade

For over a century, the Salvation Army's red kettles have reminded holiday shoppers not to forget charity during the season of giving. But this year, you don't need cash on hand to give, because there's something new in the kettle: a card reader and a mobile donation app.

For TV Buyers, 'Tis Really the Season

If you're in the market for a new television, you'd be wise to scoop up one of the sweet deals that will be available for the rest of 2011. TV manufacturers and retailers are desperate to unload inventory, so HDTVs, Internet-connected TVs and 3-D TVs will be going at deeply discounted prices.

Tips on Getting Hired for the Holidays

Retailers nationwide are expected to hire up to 500,000 seasonal workers this year, but with ongoing high unemployment, expect stiff competition for those jobs at the mall. DailyFinance's Laura Rowley offers tips on who else may be hiring for the holidays, and how to land one of those jobs.

Retail Sales: November Stole the Show from December

U.S. shoppers piled up the presents under their Christmas trees, but retailers were still a bit disappointed. The Commerce Department's official tally shows what many suspected: Consumers did most of their holiday buying early this year.

Holiday Consumer-Electronics Sales Fell 5%

U.S. consumers spent 5% less on consumer electronics during the last holiday season compared to a year earlier, according to a new report from NPD Group. Even at discounted prices, Americans bought fewer flat-screen televisions and desktop computers, as well as lower-end digital cameras and MP3 players, according to the report.

Forget Facebook: Email's a Stronger Marketing Tool

As more shoppers spend their money online, retailers are deciding where to put their e-marketing. According to a new ForeSee study, promotional emails were still far more effective at driving traffic to retail sites than social networks like Facebook this holiday season.