Page 16 - Jon Hurst News Today

A number of states, including New York and California, have brought back their statewide mask mandates, but so far Baker has resisted calls to revisit the policy, preferring to allow cities and towns to set their own requirements for masks, with some exceptions.

Shoppers' pandemic concerns are dropping while supply chain worries are soaring, and the combination is helping some local stores make a comeback.

Liquor stores say they have met a key hurdle to launching a ballot measure to counter efforts by big chains to eliminate limits on the number of stores that can alcohol in Massachusetts. The ballot measure would double the number of liquor licenses that can be held by a single company.

Massachusetts retailers are predicting a 6 percent jump in holiday sales this year.

BOSTON — Retail sector sales in Massachusetts typically total about $21.25 billion in November and December, and retailers in the shopping season that is just now gathering momentum are expecting a significant 6% increase in sales compared to 2020.The...

Baker says the traditional Thanksgiving gatherings can basically return to normal, even with COVID-19 infections lingering persistently high.

Retail sector sales in Massachusetts typically total about $21.25 billion in November and December, and retailers in the shopping season that is just now gathering momentum are expecting a significant 6 percent increase in sales compared to 2020.

The retail sector employs 600,000 people in Massachusetts and holiday sales account for about 20 percent of annual retail sales.

Retailers listed inflation, inventory delays and staffing shortages as the three top challenges this season, according to a survey of members of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts.

Retail sector sales in Massachusetts typically total about $21.25 billion in November and December, and retailers in the shopping season that is just now gathering momentum are expecting a significant