During Thanksgiving, American consumers increased their online spending by 5% compared to last year, opting for online shopping over in-store trips during the Black Friday weekend. Despite the rise in online sales, traditional in-store shopping felt quieter, with many shoppers being cautious due to concerns about the economy and inflation.
Shoppers like Grace Curbelo expressed careful spending habits, wanting to avoid debt as they navigate a softening labor market. Adobe Analytics reported that Thanksgiving online sales rose by 5.3% to $6.4 billion, indicating that while spending is up, the significance of Black Friday itself is diminishing as sales now span weeks.
At a Walmart in Atlanta, customers experienced a lack of lines early in the morning, with Quantavius Shorter among a small group shopping for discounted items like a smart TV. Retail sales growth had slowed in September, partly due to rising prices linked to tariffs, causing consumers to be more selective in their purchases.
Consumer confidence dropped, with fewer households planning large purchases, such as vehicles or homes, over the coming months. Salesforce noted a 2% decline in overall Thanksgiving order volumes, but the average price of items rose by 8%, suggesting consumers are buying fewer items but choosing more expensive ones.
The wealthiest 10% of Americans made up nearly half of consumer spending, highlighting a growing divide in economic influence. Shoppers like Mark Douglas recognized that waiting in lines may not be worth it and expressed a preference for online shopping instead.
AI shopping traffic surged dramatically, showing a new trend where shoppers are increasingly utilizing technology for their purchases. In Europe, Black Friday was marked by labor strikes, with Amazon in Germany and protests planned outside Zara in Spain, along with workers’ unions escalating strikes at Starbucks in the U. S.
With information from Reuters