Retail sales generally are improving. Although November GAFS sales were down 0.6% from last year, growth rates for all segments have been trending upward over the last several months. Hope remains for a strong December: Consumers, retailers and analysts alike are showing signs of optimism. To create and sustain momentum, retailers are testing and implementing creative ways to drive traffic, conversion and repeat purchases. Those strategies will continue to be critical as we head into January, a month that is increasingly important to ending the holiday season and starting the New Year on a positive note.