On Tuesday, December 2nd, according to a report by Adobe Analytics, online sales in the United States were robust from the Thanksgiving weekend to “Cyber Monday,” with retail sales reaching $44.2 billion, surpassing expectations.
Consumers rushed to purchase various discounted items, from electronics to household goods. On Cyber Monday, the total spending reached $14.25 billion, setting a new record for online sales on Black Friday as well, with $11.8 billion.
Adobe tracked consumers’ visits to online retail websites. Their report indicated that during these five days of the shopping season, online consumer spending in the United States increased by 7.7% compared to the previous year, totaling $44.2 billion, which exceeded earlier predictions. Adobe expected a 6.3% growth compared to the same period last year, with online spending reaching $43.7 billion.
In the same period in 2024, the five-year consumer spending growth rate was 8.2%, totaling $41.1 billion.
Vivek Pandya, Chief Analyst at Adobe Digital Insights, stated, “US retailers this holiday season heavily rely on discounts to stimulate online demand.”
He pointed out that the continuous promotions during the five-day holiday period prompted consumers to shop early, challenging the dominance of Cyber Monday by Black Friday.
Retailers including Amazon, Walmart, and Target have been offering enticing discounts to attract consumers with purchasing power, those eager to make purchases, as well as price-conscious households.
An increasing number of Americans are turning to chatbots for advice before making purchases, browsing products, and comparing prices for categories such as electronics, toys, video games, and jewelry.
According to Adobe data, compared to the same period last year, artificial intelligence (AI) traffic on US retail websites on Cyber Monday increased by 670%, while Black Friday saw a remarkable 805% surge.
Adobe’s data also showed that strong discounts this season led consumers to buy high-end items like electronics, sporting goods, and appliances.
On Cyber Monday, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services reached a historic high in usage, driving online spending to $10.3 billion, a 4.2% increase compared to the previous year. Consumers seek some breathing room in their budgets amidst rising household expenses.
Despite substantial discounts leading some consumers to take on short-term debt when buying gifts, analysts point out that overall, consumers remain savvy, carefully examining price tags and avoiding impulse purchases.