Retail sales went up 3.7% in the year through November, suggesting shopping is running strong this holiday season. But a Gallup survey finds that middle-class families are spending less.
The NFL crowd has their Patrick Mahomes. We economics reporters like to follow the chair of the president’s Council of Economic Advisers. Currently, that position is filled by Jared Bernstein under President Joe Biden. And we recently learned that hedge fund strategist Stephen Miran will do this for Donald Trump.
For people who want to get super-Christmasy, there’s Bethlehem, Pennsylvania founded on Christmas Eve 1741. And there’s Branson, Missouri with 1,500 Christmas trees. Then, there’s Croatia, home to a big, big, big Advent Market.