First Data launched SpendTrend Holiday Insights, a real-time spending dashboard to help those at the cutting edge of commerce make data-driven business decisions this holiday season. First Data’s Holiday Insights spending results are based on data drawn from transaction activity from a selected subset of First Data’s processing portfolio. The analysis includes all card-based forms of payment and is based on actual, same-store-sales activity. Growth rates reflect a year-over-year comparison of season-to-date trends. Insights will include seasonal growth rates for overall and industry-specific spending categories, geographic spending trends and special day-range callouts such as Thanksgiving and Black Friday, among others. In addition, Insights will provide a daily ranking of the most active subsectors and a look into dining spend velocity. SpendTrend is the industry’s trusted source of payment information, providing economic analyses revealing comprehensive views of consumer purchasing trends on a monthly and quarterly basis, and during holidays, based on actual sales data.