U.S. retail sales rose 3.8% between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24.
As customers turned to last minute shopping due to intense holiday season promotions, a Mastercard report showed on Thursday.
The jump in sales was higher than the 3.2% rise forecast by Mastercard in September and well above the 3.1% increase from a year earlier.
The last five days of the season accounted for 10% of all holiday spending.
Mastercard SpendingPulse measures in-store and online retail sales.
Across all forms of payment. It excludes automotive sales.