Black Friday retail sales up 4.1% in US: Mastercard SpendingPulse

This year’s Black Friday tells a story of comfort, connection, and savvy shopping as consumers prepare for meaningful moments with family and friends. Spending growth on apparel was particularly strong both online and in-store, suggesting shoppers refreshed wardrobes while leaning into value-driven choices and convenience.

"Consumers are showing incredible savviness this season. They're navigating an uncertain environment by shopping early, leveraging promotions, and investing in wish-list items," said Michelle Meyer, chief economist at the Mastercard Economics Institute.

Black Friday spending showed solid year-over-year growth across key retail categories. Apparel climbed 5.7 per cent overall—up 6.1 per cent online and 5.4 per cent in-store—as colder weather and seasonal promotions encouraged shoppers to refresh their wardrobes. Broader retail trends highlighted the strength of digital shopping, with e-commerce (excluding autos) up 10.4 per cent, as consumers gravitated toward speed and convenience. In-store sales remained an important part of the shopping experience but grew more modestly at 1.7 per cent, underscoring the balance between online efficiency and the tactile appeal of physical retail.

As online sales continue to surge, so do opportunities for fraud, with Mastercard research revealing that 72 per cent of consumers shop on unfamiliar websites despite one in four saying they try to avoid them. Shoppers report that the most common warning signs of a fraudulent site include prices that seem too good to be true (52 per cent), poor spelling or grammar (48 per cent), and requests for unnecessary personal information (49 per cent). Still, many fall victim to scams: nearly one in five shoppers have had items that never arrived, and 16 per cent have received counterfeit goods in past seasons.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (RR)