Key Takeaways Core retail sales rose 4% YOY to a record $994.1 billion, surpassing the National Retail Federation's forecast. A strong holiday season surge saw Target lift its sales forecast to 1.5% growth from the previous year.

Discounts and sales events have remained a significant sales driver, as consumers emerge from a more than two-year stretch of high inflation. It’s unclear how much those deals will cut into Target’s and other retailers’ profit margins, and whether sales will keep improving if promotions fade away.