US consumers break records in Thanksgiving weekend shopping spree

The shopping frenzy was not limited to online platforms, as 121.4 million people visited physical retail locations, maintaining a similar level to 2022's 122.7 million. However, it was the online sector that saw an increase, with 134.2 million shoppers compared to 130.2 million in the previous year.

Clothing and accessories emerged as the top gift choices, purchased by 49 per cent of the surveyed shoppers, highlighting the enduring popularity of these items as holiday gifts, as per the survey.

Black Friday retained its position as the most popular day for in-store shopping, attracting 76.2 million shoppers, an increase from 72.9 million in 2022. In contrast, the Saturday following Thanksgiving witnessed a slight decrease in in-store shopping, with 59 million consumers, down from 63.4 million last year. Notably, 78 per cent of Saturday's shoppers participated in Small Business Saturday, mirroring last year's trend.

The online shopping landscape also saw Black Friday as the busiest day, with approximately 90.6 million consumers, an increase from 87.2 million in 2022. Cyber Monday, while still significant, experienced a slight decline in online shoppers, with about 73 million compared to 77 million the previous year.

Desktop and laptop computers remained popular for Cyber Monday online shopping, with around 44 million users. Mobile devices saw a slight decrease in usage with 40.5 million shoppers, down from the record 45.7 million in 2022 but still significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Shoppers frequented a variety of destinations, with online stores (44 per cent), department stores (40 per cent), and clothing and accessories stores (36 per cent) being the top choices.

Interestingly, 95 per cent of shoppers made holiday-related purchases during the weekend, a slight decrease from 97 per cent in the previous year but aligning with historical trends. On average, consumers spent $321.41 on these items, comparable to last year's $325.44, with about 70 per cent ($226.55) of this spending directed specifically towards gifts.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (DP)