U.S. online shopping surged to $44.2 billion over the five-day Thanksgiving-to-Cyber-Monday period, according to new data from Adobe Analytics. Cyber Monday alone brought in $14.25 billion, cementing its place as the biggest online shopping day of the year.
Adobe said online spending during Cyber Week rose 7.7% from last year, though the growth rate was slightly below the 8.2% jump recorded in 2023. The latest figures surpassed Adobe’s earlier projection of $43.7 billion.
Retailers leaned aggressively on steep discounts to fuel demand, said Adobe Digital Insights lead analyst Vivek Pandya, noting that strong deals spread across the entire weekend have narrowed the gap between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
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Black Friday spending hit a record $11.8 billion, boosted by major retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target rolling out deep cuts across electronics, toys, home goods and everyday essentials. Both affluent shoppers and budget-conscious consumers took advantage of the promotions.
The 2024 holiday shopping season also saw a major shift in how people shop. Adobe reported a 670% spike in AI-driven traffic to retail sites on Cyber Monday and an 805% increase on Black Friday, as shoppers used chatbots and AI tools to compare prices and discover deals.
Deep discounts pushed buyers toward bigger-ticket items such as electronics, appliances and sporting goods. Meanwhile, the use of buy now, pay later (BNPL) services climbed to an all-time high on Cyber Monday, hitting $1.03 billion, up 4.2% year-over-year, as households searched for ways to manage tight budgets.
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While deals encouraged strong spending, analysts noted that consumers remained cautious, staying alert to prices and avoiding impulse purchases despite the aggressive holiday promotions.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
