Holiday Sales to Rise 2.3%: NRF

YORK (TheStreet) -- Holiday retail sales are expected to rise a modest 2.3% to $447.1 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. While this growth remains below the 10-year average of a 2.5% increase, it is a significant improvement over last year's 0.4% uptick, and the 3.9% decline in 2008. Of course, shoppers' primary focus will be on price, and retailers are expected to compensate by once again offering significant promotions. Retailers will also leverage sales through new channels, like mobile and social networks. eBay(EBAY), for one, has seen success with its mobile phone applications, while Best Buy(BBY) and