The results from SpendingPulse provide an early look into the strength of the crucial US holiday sales season, which traditionally begins on the day after Thanksgiving. This year, the major holiday sales period begins on Friday, Nov 28.

Analysts are predicting the worst holiday sales season in nearly two decades.

Overall apparel sales are down 19 per cent from the same period a year ago, according to a report by SpendingPulse, the retail data service of MasterCard Advisors, an arm of MasterCard Worldwide. Apparel sales fell 5.5 per cent in September and 12.2 per cent in October.

Women's apparel fell 19.7 per cent in the first half of November compared with last year, with men's apparel down 20.5 per cent.

Footwear sales fell 11 per cent, and electronics and appliance sales dropped a steep 22.1 per cent, according to the report. Total luxury sales, which includes jewelry and high-end luxury stores, fell 21.1 per cent.

Internet sales showed the most modest decline of the period, at 7.5 per cent.

SpendingPulse's report includes sales from Nov 1 - 15 and comes on the heels of dismal October sales, as consumers focused on essential purchases as the global financial crisis deepened.

'It's still very, very challenging. We've been seeing a deteriorating retail environment for some time, but in the last 10 days of October things started to deteriorate rapidly. That's continuing in November,' said Mr Michael McNamara, vice-president of SpendingPulse.

Sales were better in the second week of November than the first, as consumers previously distracted by the US election returned to the stores and gasoline prices eased.

'Sales are getting better in relative terms compared to where they had been in October and the first week in November in several categories' such as apparel, Mr McNamara said. -- REUTERS