“As a traditionally slower sales month for the industry, it’s encouraging to see such sustained growth in consumer spending and sentiment,” says NRF CEO. Building on the momentum of a strong holiday shopping season and propelled by gift card redemptions and warm weather, retailers’ January sales saw solid growth across the board. According to the…

Some 47% of those hitting stores this week plan to redeem newly-received gift cards.   The 2011 holiday shopping season will seemingly extend at least another week, as four in 10 Americans plan on hitting the stores over the next few days, according to a new Consumer Reports poll. Of those who will be shopping…