U.S. consumers delivered another record-breaking holiday shopping surge this year, spending US$14.25 billion on Cyber Monday.
This took the total online sales for the U.S. Thanksgiving weekend to $44.2 billion. From gadgets to everyday essentials, shoppers embraced deep discounts as retailers fought aggressively for digital traffic.
Spending surged despite economic slumps
Across Cyber Week, the five days from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, online spending rose 7.7% (slightly below last year’s 8.2% jump to $41.1 billion).
Adobe originally forecast this year’s total to reach $43.7 billion, representing 6.3% growth. Instead, consumer activity exceeded expectations, helped by widespread and persistent sales.
“U.S. retailers leaned heavily on discounts this holiday season to drive online demand. Competitive and persistent deals throughout Cyber Week pushed consumers to shop earlier, creating an environment where Black Friday now challenges the dominance of Cyber Monday,” said Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights.
That trend was reflected in a record-setting $11.8 billion in online spending on Black Friday, further blurring the lines between the two major shopping days.
Major retailers, including Amazon, Walmart and Target, dropped steep markdowns across categories to attract both high-income shoppers and cost-conscious consumers stretching strained budgets.
AI becomes a star of the show
Unsurprisingly, AI also played a notable role in how people shopped. More Americans turned to AI-powered tools like chatbots to browse, compare prices, and evaluate products. This was most notable with appliances, toys, video games, and jewelry.
Adobe reported a staggering 670% increase in AI-linked traffic on Cyber Monday and 805% on Black Friday compared to 2024.
Heavy discounts encouraged shoppers to fill their carts with higher-priced items, especially electronics, sporting goods, and appliances.
Meanwhile, the demand for flexible payments hit new highs as households try to manage rising expenses.
BNPL becomes ever more popular
The use of “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) services reached a milestone on Cyber Monday, driving $1.03 billion in online purchases. This marks a 4.2% increase year-over-year.
While some shoppers took on short-term debt amid the torrent of promotions, analysts pointed out that consumers overall approached holiday spending with more caution.
Price sensitivity remained strong, and many buyers were deliberate about avoiding impulse purchases despite the wave of deals.
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