Thanksgiving weekend shoppers surpassed their record turnout from last year, marking a strong unofficial start to the holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. 

U.S. import container volumes are expected to show a nearly 1% drop when the final numbers for 2019 are in, the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates said.

U.S. retail sales this holiday season will grow at a slower pace than last year, with consumers spending more of their disposable income on services than gifts, the National Retail Federation said.