Target raised its fourth-quarter sales forecast Thursday after more consumers turned to its stores and website for holiday shopping — particularly on days known for deep discounts.

Sales for the 2024 holiday shopping season turned out to be robust and better than expected, as easing inflation on merchandise drove shoppers to buy, according to the nation’s largest retail trade group.

While Target reported strong holiday sales on Thursday, it wasn’t enough to give the stock a boost.The retail chain said sales increased 2% on a comparable basis in the last two months of 2024 from a year earlier,