Clap your hands and say “thank goodness”! The Winter Holidays are finally in view, bringing with it -- we trust -- much needed revenue.

Typical of a Presidential election year, sales may have been sluggish the past few months. But after November, when future national leadership concerns are set to rest, retail sales are likely to enjoy a robust return to more normal patterns. Keeping the election in mind, Winter Holiday sales may start slow, so don’t panic.

Remember that, historically, Winter Holiday sales make cash registers jingle with joy. In 2007, The National Retail Federation reported that consumers spent $469.9 BILLION during the Winter Holiday sales period (Christmas). But, you really have to see the breakdown of other holiday sales to get the big picture. According to the National Retail Federation, this is the breakdown:

St. Patrick’s Day $3.6 billion
Halloween $5.1 billion
Super Bowl $9.5 billion
Father’s Day $9.6 billion
Easter $14.4 billion
Mother’s Day $15.8 billion
Valentine’s Day $17.0 billion
Back to School/College $51.4 billion
Winter Holidays $469.9 billion

In a pie chart, the Winter Holidays visually represent about three quarters of the total. That’s a nice thought to keep in mind as you head into the most lucrative time of the year -- and the most joyful season.

There is some wisdom in being cautious with wholesale buying (noting the election and slight rise in unemployment numbers), but do remember that you can only sell as much as you buy.