Wishing You the Best in the New Year!
This is a season of joy and warmth, when many of us come together with loved ones in a spirit of sharing and celebration. We hope the holiday season is filled with cheer and warm memories for you and your family and friends. Here are some holiday-related facts and figures from the U.S. Census Bureau's collection of statistics.
 Did You Know?
$19.4 billion
The estimated retail sales for the nation’s department stores in December 2018, a decrease of 4.3% from December of the previous year.
18.2%
The estimated percentage of 2018 total jewelry store sales that occurred in December.
12.5%
The estimated percentage that December sales accounted for of total hobby, toy, and game store sales in 2018.
The 2020 Census is Coming Soon
 In the new year, we kick off the 2020 Census, so click the link below to learn more about the upcoming 2020 Census and share this video.
Noel, Snowflake, North Pole, Rudolf, and more!
There are many holiday-sounding places in the U.S. including Mount Holly, NC (population 16,135), and Holly Springs, MS (7,652). There’s also Snowflake, AZ (5,858); Santa Claus, IN (2,410); North Pole, AK (2,113); Noel, MO (1,833); and—if you know about reindeer—Dasher, GA. (1,004), and Rudolph, WI (422).
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The Remarkable True Story of Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Eighty years ago this year, advertising copywriter Robert L. May published Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as part of a 1939 holiday promotion sponsored by the Montgomery Ward department store headquartered in Chicago.
In the decades since its publication, Rudolph has become an iconic holiday character featured in books, music, and television specials, recognized by millions of children (and adults) worldwide.
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