The company pointed to a “volatile” holiday season and a challenging macroeconomic environment.
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![Retail sales, excluding sales at gas stations, restaurants, and car dealerships, were up 3.8 percent year-over-year during the 2023 holiday season and rose 3.6 percent for the full year, the NRF said last week. Stock image of hand holding holiday shopping bags](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/8e9d379978382b0e4c72db3a3260667b.jpg)
Retail sales also were up about 4 percent for the full year.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. National Jeweler columnist Sherry Smith](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/4df353ab37e9c2cb2d3cea95ce11c7ae.jpg)
Sherry Smith breaks down the final results for the month of December as well as for the full year.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. National Jeweler columnist Sherry Smith](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/64c880bfec1dcb2c534e6bdbb224d07e.jpg)
The first 21 days of the month revealed surprising shifts in consumer behavior, Sherry Smith says.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. National Jeweler columnist Sherry Smith](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/68421ad7aefd08b4485179541beba725.jpg)
Independent jewelers’ sales increased 1 percent from Dec. 7-14 and some interesting trends emerged, Sherry Smith writes.
![The new Jared Atelier x Shy Dayan collection includes one-of-a-kind pieces, like this 18-karat yellow gold necklace set with yellow diamonds and a 25.3-carat emerald ($165,000). Jared emerald and yellow diamond necklace](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/48b08894dc5388bd5c08fb24bdc4be1c.jpg)
The limited-edition jewels were created alongside designer Shy Dayan of Shy Creation.
![A selection of holiday jewels from Signet Jewelers-owned banner Rocksbox. See how Signet Jewelers, Brilliant Earth, and other major jewelry sellers are feeling about the holiday season ahead. Rocksbox holiday jewelry](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/3f6ba321288cd05fe5fb4d7312f144c2.jpg)
From Signet Jewelers to Macy’s, here’s how the biggest jewelry sellers are feeling about the most wonderful time of the year.
![My Next Question webinar graphic](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/e3beb2c96008ae2bb656cc308aff3c7b.jpg)
The National Jeweler editors look back on the year in jewelry and share their predictions for 2024.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. National Jeweler columnist Sherry Smith](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/ef4b40241906151850c621facf903384.jpg)
Sherry Smith dishes on bridal versus fashion diamond jewelry sales and the “unexpected heroes” of the first week of the month.
![Sherry Smith is director of business development for data and consulting company The Edge Retail Academy. She can be reached at sherry@edgeretailacademy.com. National Jeweler columnist Sherry Smith](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/e54b41b2f018430d165bb865b467cbe7.jpg)
Sherry Smith breaks down the numbers on jewelry sales in November and reveals the category that “emerged as a standout.”
![In the five-day period from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, 200.4 million consumers went shopping, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey. Holiday shoppers holding bags](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/60e2f9d75cdb0357f1e73c226d6c9f30.jpg)
From Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, 200.4 million consumers shopped online and in stores.
![A pair of titanium, gold, and diamond earrings from De Beers’ “Metamorphosis” high jewelry “Winter” collection. Ahead of the holiday season, Associate Editor Lenore Fedow asked three sales experts and a diamantaire for their top tips on how to sell diamonds this year. De Beers Metamorphosis high jewelry earrings](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/d7ff134df797ecbcf30325c69bfafd60.jpg)
Sales experts and a diamantaire share their best advice on how to send customers home with diamond jewelry.
![David Yurman partnered with the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and its SCADpro studio for the jewelry brand’s new holiday campaign. David Yurman holiday campaign](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/63fff8a2048124bbdf80e9cd42ab91d2.jpg)
The jewelry brand takes viewers through a virtual winter wonderland set in New York City.
![The National Retail Federation predicted that a record-breaking 182 million consumers will shop both online and in-store over the holiday weekend. Holiday shopping at laptop](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/7ecdf40e71827e4226ec5b95184b7006.jpg)
Though consumers have started holiday shopping earlier, the organization still predicts a busy Thanksgiving weekend for retailers.
![Jewelers for Children has begun its annual “Hope for the Holidays” program, giving jewelers a way to support children in need through seasonal greeting cards. Jewelers for Children holiday card](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/f32ba14d69bfab87b57487e8841067c2.jpg)
There are three designs available this year, each featuring artwork by kids in programs supported by JFC.
![GIA is offering jewelers complimentary expedited services for the holiday season from now through Dec. 20. Gemological Institute of America logo](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/22deb125b2b3bfae7ab952c0db79d0cd.jpg)
The lab is tightening the turnaround time on certain diamond grading reports for what normally is the industry’s busy season.
![Peter Smith is an industry consultant, speaker, sales trainer, and author. He can be reached via email at TheRetailSmiths@gmail.com. National Jeweler columnist Peter Smith](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/43399771a77940b42686e7acd4360dd0.jpg)
From showing three items to asking the big question, Peter Smith gives tips for promoting a positive sales atmosphere this holiday season.
![The National Retail Federation expects holiday sales to grow 3 to 4 percent year-over-year, according to its annual forecast, released Thursday. Holiday presents](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/8a69652995a81229f62cb4a407158590.jpg)
Sales will increase compared with last year, though the rate of growth is expected to slow.
![Shoppers are expected to spend $875 on average celebrating winter holidays this year, up from $833 last year, according to the National Retail Federation’s latest consumer survey, conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. Stock image of holiday gifts in bags](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/8537701c5d256705d04078608cd0e420.jpg)
Discounts and promotions could persuade consumers to shop earlier this year, the survey found.
![Conducted in September, the first Shopify-Gallup Holiday Shopping Pulse survey of the season asked 1,761 consumers about their shopping plans for the upcoming holidays. Wrapped holiday gift boxes](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/25f4f2ab1d23eb44018d8708277e7e9a.jpg)
The seasonal survey asked consumers how, when, and where they’ll shop for holiday gifts.
![Five diamond industry leaders in India have signed onto a letter calling for a two-month halt on rough diamond imports amid flagging demand for diamond jewelry and falling polished natural diamond prices. (Stock image ©De Beers Group/Photo credit: Ben Perry @ Armoury Films) Stock image of rough diamonds from De Beers](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/1fd450acca53a66613b3234c5d95b2e7.jpg)
The plea comes against a backdrop of declining demand and falling prices.
![Mastercard predicts retail sales will grow 3.7 percent in November and December, though jewelry sales are forecast to remain essentially flat amid a “rebalancing” in consumer spending. Gold holiday gift boxes](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/21ea748f492c792913f554eadee9bd2b.jpg)
According to SpendingPulse, retail sales will increase in November and December but not necessarily for jewelers.
![Bain & Company and Deloitte recently shared their holiday forecasts. Online holiday season shopping](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/343ceb463ba8654b044633ee805c8831.jpg)
From holiday spending to inflation’s impact, here’s what analysts are forecasting for the season.
![De Beers Group announced Tuesday it will spend $20 million to advertise natural diamonds this holiday season, revamping its call-to-action “Seize the Day” campaign from the 1990s and reviving the tagline “A Diamond Is Forever.” De Beers Mic Drop Seize the Day ad](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/8f03bd1538e5e6c85738fcfada5cf524.jpg)
De Beers is putting the emphasis on natural diamonds in Q4 and ending Lightbox’s lab-grown diamond engagement ring test run.