US Consumers Pour Billions into Online Shopping on Black Friday, Despite Economic Uncertainty
In a surprise to many, US consumers continued to shop in record numbers this past Black Friday, with online sales reaching an estimated $11.8 billion - a 9.1% increase from last year's total of $10.7 billion. While some experts had predicted that the pandemic-fueled shopping craze would dwindle, shoppers instead opted for the convenience and comfort of shopping from home.
The majority of these online sales were driven by mobile shopping, with Adobe estimating that more than half of all sales were made on smartphones and tablets. Meanwhile, in-store traffic continued to decline, with RetailNext reporting a 3.6% drop in US Black Friday foot traffic compared to last year.
Despite the rise in online spending, some consumers are choosing to spread their purchases out over several days rather than splurging on just one day. This trend is being driven by retailers who offer extended promotions and discounts, as well as shoppers seeking value for their money.
However, the boost in online sales comes at a time when many Americans are feeling the pinch of economic uncertainty. Rising tariffs and stagnant wages have left some consumers struggling to make ends meet. According to Salesforce, the average selling price of items purchased on Black Friday increased by 7% compared to last year, while order volumes actually declined.
Experts predict that this trend of online shopping will continue through the holiday season, with Adobe estimating an additional $5.5 billion in sales on Saturday and $5.9 billion on Sunday before reaching a record total of $14.2 billion on Cyber Monday. Nevertheless, the strain on businesses and households due to tariffs and economic uncertainty may have a lasting impact on consumer spending habits.
For now, it seems that US consumers are choosing to prioritize convenience over caution, opting for the benefits of online shopping despite rising prices and economic uncertainty.
In a surprise to many, US consumers continued to shop in record numbers this past Black Friday, with online sales reaching an estimated $11.8 billion - a 9.1% increase from last year's total of $10.7 billion. While some experts had predicted that the pandemic-fueled shopping craze would dwindle, shoppers instead opted for the convenience and comfort of shopping from home.
The majority of these online sales were driven by mobile shopping, with Adobe estimating that more than half of all sales were made on smartphones and tablets. Meanwhile, in-store traffic continued to decline, with RetailNext reporting a 3.6% drop in US Black Friday foot traffic compared to last year.
Despite the rise in online spending, some consumers are choosing to spread their purchases out over several days rather than splurging on just one day. This trend is being driven by retailers who offer extended promotions and discounts, as well as shoppers seeking value for their money.
However, the boost in online sales comes at a time when many Americans are feeling the pinch of economic uncertainty. Rising tariffs and stagnant wages have left some consumers struggling to make ends meet. According to Salesforce, the average selling price of items purchased on Black Friday increased by 7% compared to last year, while order volumes actually declined.
Experts predict that this trend of online shopping will continue through the holiday season, with Adobe estimating an additional $5.5 billion in sales on Saturday and $5.9 billion on Sunday before reaching a record total of $14.2 billion on Cyber Monday. Nevertheless, the strain on businesses and households due to tariffs and economic uncertainty may have a lasting impact on consumer spending habits.
For now, it seems that US consumers are choosing to prioritize convenience over caution, opting for the benefits of online shopping despite rising prices and economic uncertainty.
online shopping is just so convenient, especially during peak shopping times like black friday. people are just trying to save time and energy, you know? 
️ but at the same time, $11.8 billion is a lot of money... it's crazy how some people can justify spending that much on stuff when they're already struggling financially 
. i guess we'll just have to wait and see if this trend continues throughout the holiday season 
. Like, I get it, online shopping is so much more comfy, but don't we want to support our local stores? I've seen some shops near me struggling to stay afloat and it's just a shame that people aren't thinking about that as much as they should be 
. Maybe we're just all so tired of worrying about money that we just wanna treat ourselves? 
Whatever the reason, I think it's awesome that online shopping is still killing it! 
. At the same time, I do think that retailers offering extended promotions and discounts is a smart move to stay competitive 
. But overall, I'm just skeptical about how long this trend will last... 
plus with all the extended promotions and discounts, it's hard to resist 
does anyone know how this is gonna affect the economy in the long run? 
. But at the same time, it also raises some red flags 
. With tariffs and stagnant wages, it's getting harder for people to afford these big-ticket items 
. It's like consumers are just trying to keep up with the Joneses 
. I'm all for convenience and value, but we gotta be smart about our spending habits too 
. We need to make sure we're not sacrificing our long-term financial stability for a day of online shopping frenzy 
.
. And let's be real, it's not like we're seeing a huge drop-off in sales or anything 
. Like, isn't Black Friday supposed to be about finding deals and saving some cash? 
And if retailers are gonna keep offering those extended promotions and discounts, I'll be there in a heartbeat 
. Just hope they don't get too caught up in the hype and forget about the people who really need a break