Holiday retail sales registered an 8.5 percent increase over the past year, according to a Mastercard report published on Dec. 26, as the economy continues to struggle with the highest inflation rates in almost 40 years combined with product shortages. Mastercard SpendingPulse measures sales numbers from Nov. 1 through Dec. 24 and includes in-store and online retail sales. Auto sales aren’t part of the survey, which includes all forms of payments, such as cash and check. Sales numbers in 2021 were visibly buoyed by robust e-commerce transactions, which grew by about 11 percent compared to 2020, while year-to-year returns to stores went up by 8.1 percent. Constant worries about products running out of stock encouraged customers to buy fast and early. “Shoppers were eager to secure their gifts ahead of the retail rush, with conversations surrounding supply chain and labor supply issues sending consumers online and to stores in droves,” …