This is WBZ, Boston's news radio, redefining local news. Thirty five degrees in Boston at four o'clock. Good afternoon. I'm Ben Parker. Here's what's happening. Inflated prices this year didn't stop Americans from doing buying during the holiday season.
Sales rose this year during the holiday shopping season, even as Americans wrestled with elevated prices. Holiday sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve climb three point eight percent, outpacing the three point one percent increase from a year ago. That's according to MasterCards Spending Pulse, which tracks all kinds of payments, including cash and debit cards. The last five days of the shopping season accounted for ten percent of
the spending. Clothing sales rose three point six percent, with most of the growth being fueled by online shopping. Spending on restaurants and sales of electronics and jewelry also grew. Online sales jumps six point seven percent from a year ago, and in person spending was up two point nine percent. I'm Shelley apler.
After the gifts were unwrapped and some head to the stores to return and exchange CBS's a CBS News boss, and Fenny commit has more.
Logistics company Narvar predicts a one hundred dollars item could cost a retailer thirty two dollars to restock and resell. Some companies are even adopting what experts call returnless.
Returns because the cost of processing and the cost of shipping and postage is so high it's cheaper for them to just say keep the item, but you can't count on that.
To avoid return fees, experts suggest taking your items back to the physical store instead of shipping them for Amazon packages. Bring them to a drop off location like Coals or Whole Foods, and keep all items in their original packaging, and don't forget your receipt.
And retail experts say, if you missed that return window, try bring your unwanted things back to the store anyway. Investigators still trying to determine the cause of a fire at a multi million dollar home in Brookline they mentioned on Sergeant Road, went up in flames this morning. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze by midday or so. No one was injured in the fire, and the five people in the home were able to get out safely. The owners should be able to rebuild. Firefighters say most
of the damage was in the attic. US officials are planning meeting with partners in the Middle East discussing the potential re emergence of the ISIS terrorist group. More from CBS's Cammy McCormick.
US diplomats traveled to Syria to meet with the new authorities there, and now a delegation from Iraq has arrived, including the head of intelligence. Iraq has been a central partner in the fight against ISIS and is stressing to the new Syrian leaders the importance of securing their shared border. There are two thousand US troops in Syria that are part of the anti ISIS mission.
The Biden administration has been expressing concerns about a security vacuum in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime. My Washington Avalanche Center is warning about an elevated safety
risk following an avalanche Hillman's Highway Christmas Eve. The center says it was caused naturally from strong winds and several new inches of snow, and that those conditions could cause more avalanches this week, especially on slopes higher than three thousand feet avalanches can come without warning, but possible signs of danger include visible cracks in the snow and smooth
snow drifts that are feeling firm and sounding hollow. The Mount Washington Observatory says as of twenty twenty one, there were seventeen deaths from avalanches in the mountains. Recorded history coming up on WBZ How long before you throw out that tree? Chill in the air Tonight about twenty two in Boston, into the teens in some of the inland suburbs under clear skies Tonight mostly sunny. Tomorrow will be around forty, and then tomorrow night clouds start to increase
thirty in Boston, twenties in the suburbs. We start to bring in some precipitation. We're also going to start to bring in some warmer temperatures, though on Saturday we will have clouds, we'll have some rain and drizzle, and especially outside of four ninety five, we may pick up a little bit of freezing with some of that precipitation, as the temperatures may be cold enough to make surface slick. Temperatures late Saturday do get to about forty, though over
the Capean Island's mid forties. By Sunday we're to about fifty degrees with some clouds, some rain, some drizzle, and then a heavier rain. We'll get in here Sunday night, and then Monday we hang on to periods of rain in the morning. Clouds linger. Temperatures though, get into the upper fifties. Right now, it's thirty five degrees in Boston, with Christmas behind us. Plenty of people are asking themselves, how long should I leave that tree Upbezi's Jeremy Russ is looking for the answer.
For some people, it's a matter of religion. The twelve Days of Christmas ends on the Peace of Epiphany January sixth, so the tree stays up at least until then. For others, the deadline is a little bit more up in the air. There are the conservatives like five days, the relative we moderate to April April as long as it's a life, keep it up, and the full blown Christmas die hards as long.
As you want. Because Christmas is the best time of the year.
Ever, you should keep a tree up all year and decorate it for each holiday.
And for others it's just a matter of practicality.
New Year's you sell people over so I want to treat to look nice, and then nobody wants to clean up after New.
Year's so, unle, that's what you're cleaning are dead pine needles. Jeremy Russ WBZ, Boston's news radio.
Patriot Place is hosting its annual Minora Lighting celebration tonight, second night of Hanukkah. The venue is partnering with a Temple and Sharon to put on the event. There'll be special appearances pat Patriot Patriots cheerleaders. To celebration goes until six o'clock this evening. It's the first day of Kwansa. Tampa Trahielo tells us the history of the holiday.
From December twenty sixth to January first, millions of people worldwide will observe the Pan African tradition created by cal State Long Beach professor doctor Marlana Kerenga in nineteen sixty six. Doctor Karanka created the concept of Kwanza to honor African American heritage and culture. Karenga says the holiday is to help Black families relate to the past in order to understand the present and deal with the future. The word
Kwansa is Swahili for harvest first Fruits. The holiday observes principles, practices, and symbols which are geared to the social and spiritual needs of African Americans. I'm Tammy Trhio.
It's opening day for an event that brings a lot of people to downtown Salem. WBC's CALONL. Stevens with more on the Frozen Fire Festival.
Live music is just a part of the Frozen Fire Festival. Here at Charlotte Porton Park and Salem. There's also curling fire pits, igloos, a lot to eat and a lot to drink, and at night circu performers, some of whom play with fire. Shelby Elwell with the Anthem Group who put this together, says the goal is to give people a reason to get out and have fun.
Well, the goal is really to drive foot traffic and tourism post Christmas and keep the economic impact alive for the small businesses and the restaurants in the community so you can carry through to the new year, especially as the season gets a little colder.
The Frozen Fire Festival has free admission and runs every day from eleven am till midnight until January first. From Salem Carl Stevens WDBZ, Boston's news radio.
You are now in the loop for news updates throughout the day. Listen to WBZ News Radio on the iHeartRadio app. I'm Ben Parker, WBZ, Boston's News Radio,