Black Friday Sales Soar to Record High, Marking a Shift in Holiday Shopping Habits
U.S. consumers spent a staggering $11.8 billion online on Black Friday, shattering previous records and defying economic uncertainty that has been hovering over the holiday season. This marked a 9.1% increase from last year's sales, according to Adobe Analytics.
The surge in online shopping was particularly notable during peak hours between 10 am and 2 pm local time, with $12.5 million passing through online shopping carts every minute. Mobile shopping accounted for more than half of all sales, highlighting the growing trend towards digital commerce.
Consumers also spent a record $6.4 billion online on Thanksgiving Day, further underscoring the shift away from traditional in-store shopping. Top categories that saw significant growth included video game consoles, electronics, and home appliances.
However, not all was rosy for retailers. Salesforce estimated that Black Friday online sales totaled $18 billion in the U.S., while Shopify reported a record $6.2 billion in global sales. In-store traffic, meanwhile, continued to dwindle, with RetailNext estimating a 3.6% decline from 2024.
"The story isn't just that shoppers stayed home; it's that they're changing how and when they shop," said Joe Shasteen, global manager of advanced analytics at RetailNext. "Customers are now spreading out purchases over a longer time frame and walking into stores with a far narrower mission than we've seen in past holiday seasons."
Despite the rise in online shopping, experts predict heightened holiday spending to continue through the weekend, with Adobe expecting U.S. shoppers to spend another $5.5 billion on Saturday and $5.9 billion on Sunday.
However, rising prices due to tariffs have put a strain on businesses and households alike. Salesforce noted that U.S. shoppers purchased fewer items at checkout on Black Friday, while order volumes slipped 1%. Average selling prices climbed 7%, further highlighting the impact of inflation.
As consumers navigate the complexities of holiday shopping amidst economic uncertainty, one thing is clear: the way people shop has forever changed.
U.S. consumers spent a staggering $11.8 billion online on Black Friday, shattering previous records and defying economic uncertainty that has been hovering over the holiday season. This marked a 9.1% increase from last year's sales, according to Adobe Analytics.
The surge in online shopping was particularly notable during peak hours between 10 am and 2 pm local time, with $12.5 million passing through online shopping carts every minute. Mobile shopping accounted for more than half of all sales, highlighting the growing trend towards digital commerce.
Consumers also spent a record $6.4 billion online on Thanksgiving Day, further underscoring the shift away from traditional in-store shopping. Top categories that saw significant growth included video game consoles, electronics, and home appliances.
However, not all was rosy for retailers. Salesforce estimated that Black Friday online sales totaled $18 billion in the U.S., while Shopify reported a record $6.2 billion in global sales. In-store traffic, meanwhile, continued to dwindle, with RetailNext estimating a 3.6% decline from 2024.
"The story isn't just that shoppers stayed home; it's that they're changing how and when they shop," said Joe Shasteen, global manager of advanced analytics at RetailNext. "Customers are now spreading out purchases over a longer time frame and walking into stores with a far narrower mission than we've seen in past holiday seasons."
Despite the rise in online shopping, experts predict heightened holiday spending to continue through the weekend, with Adobe expecting U.S. shoppers to spend another $5.5 billion on Saturday and $5.9 billion on Sunday.
However, rising prices due to tariffs have put a strain on businesses and households alike. Salesforce noted that U.S. shoppers purchased fewer items at checkout on Black Friday, while order volumes slipped 1%. Average selling prices climbed 7%, further highlighting the impact of inflation.
As consumers navigate the complexities of holiday shopping amidst economic uncertainty, one thing is clear: the way people shop has forever changed.