Discounts and sales events have remained a significant sales driver, as consumers emerge from a more than two-year stretch of high inflation. It’s unclear how much those deals will cut into Target’s and other retailers’ profit margins, and whether sales will keep improving if promotions fade away.

December’s retail sales report could be a bright spot for the economy, rounding out a surprisingly solid holiday season. By all accounts, the sales report—due Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern—should be a solid one.

Target leaned in heavily toward promotions and sales during the holidays, a strategy that seems to have left it in the middle of the pack of retailers for the season. The Minneapolis-based retailer said Thursday its comparable sales rose about 2%,