Retailers are finding U.S. holiday sales growth weak this year in the wake of late October’s Hurricane Sandy and the ‘fiscal cliff’ stalemate in Washington, according to preliminary data.

Retail sales grew by 0.7% year-over-year in the Oct. 28-Dec. 24 period, according to MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse. In 2011, estimated holiday sales rose 2% and continued up in 2009-2010, rebounding from the recession that saw a holiday sales decrease 5.5% in 2008.

Online sales also slowed down this season, increasing 8.4% year-over-year Oct. 28-Dec. 22, SpendingPulse reported.

SpendingPulse tracks total U.S. sales at stores and online in all payment forms.

Editor’s note: ‘Christian Retailing’ will report on Christian retail holiday sales as the information becomes available.

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