Unconcerned with unemployment

For the first time since 2009, unemployment is not the leading issue predicted by retailers to impact holiday sales, according to a survey from professional services firm BDO USA.

The company conducted telephone surveys with 100 chief marketing officers at leading retailers nationwide for its 10th annual survey, according to a release. This year, 26% of the respondents believe unemployment will have an impact on their sales during the holiday season. Last year, 45% had those concerns.

In general, retail executives are optimistic about the coming year. Other findings from the survey include:

Retailers forecast a 4.2% increase in total store sales for the 2015 holiday season. Going into the 2014 holiday season, retailers projected sales to grow by 4.1%.

Gift card sales are balancing out. This year, 43% of retailers expect increases in gift card sales, down from the 61% prediction heading into the 2013 holiday season.

Two-thirds of retailers expect consumer electronics to be the top-performing category again this holiday season. Consumer electronic revenues nationwide are projected to reach an all-time high of $223.2 billion.