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 United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge helps fund new nature trail signs in Rocky Mount Gene Marrano June 24, 2026 More Romeo & Juliet, new exhibit at Wilson Museum, Broadway in Roanoke releases schedule for 26-27 season Gene Marrano June 24, 2026 Feeding Southwest Virginia President and CEO Pamela Irvine will retire at the end of the year after 45 years with the Food Bank Gene Marrano June 24, 2026