Virginia consumers more upbeat as the holiday shopping season rolls along Gene Marrano December 10, 2025 1 minute read Alice Kassens Roanoke College photo Consumer Sentiment is much higher in Virginia than it is in the nation as a whole – and that might be good news for local businesses that often count on the Thanksgiving to Christmas stretch to jump into “the black.” More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano: Share: Post navigation Previous: The Nutcracker, Shakespeare, Best Christmas Pageant ever … and RSO’s Holiday Brass all this weekendNext: Nutcracker on stage this weekend Related Stories National D-Day Memorial marks 82nd anniversary with tribute to advocate Lucille Hoback Boggess Ian Price June 3, 2026 RBT’s Sleeping Beauty, Blacksburg Summer Arts Festival, Paint Fincastle this weekend Gene Marrano June 3, 2026 Hometown D-Day heroes honored Gene Marrano June 3, 2026