Cyber Monday is projected to set a new benchmark for online consumer spending in the United States, despite broader economic concerns. Retail analysts anticipate that U.S. shoppers will spend $14.2 billion digitally on the day, marking a 6.3% increase compared to 2024. This surge follows strong performances over the holiday weekend, with $11.8 billion spent online during Black Friday and $6.4 billion on Thanksgiving, both exceeding initial projections. n nThe five-day stretch between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday—commonly referred to as Cyber Week—serves as a key indicator of seasonal consumer confidence. According to Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights, discounts are expected to remain aggressive through the final day, reinforcing Cyber Monday’s status as the peak online shopping event of the year. n nSignificant markdowns are anticipated in electronics and clothing, with average reductions of 30% and 26% respectively. While bargain hunting is a major driver, inflationary pressures may also contribute to higher nominal sales figures. n nFor the entire November-December holiday period, the National Retail Federation forecasts total spending will surpass $1 trillion for the first time, although growth is moderating. The expected year-over-year rise of 3.7% to 4.2% falls slightly below last year’s 4.3% increase. n nMeanwhile, financial strain is evident in rising credit card balances and delinquency rates on short-term loans. More consumers are turning to “buy now, pay later” financing, which Adobe estimates will support $20.2 billion in holiday purchases—an 11% jump from the previous year. Over $1 billion in such transactions is expected to occur on Cyber Monday alone, most initiated via mobile devices. n nMobile platforms now dominate digital shopping, accounting for 56.1% of all online expenditures, or $142.7 billion across the season. Just five years ago, desktops were the primary method for online transactions. n nArtificial intelligence is also shaping buying behavior. Salesforce reported that AI-powered assistants influenced $14.2 billion of the $79 billion spent globally on Black Friday. n nTop-selling items on Cyber Monday are expected to include the Nintendo Switch 2, Labubu Dolls, and upcoming flagship smartphones such as the iPhone 17, Google Pixel 10, and Samsung Galaxy S25. n nOriginally coined by the National Retail Federation in 2005, Cyber Monday has evolved from a single-day event into a weeklong shopping phenomenon fueled by sustained marketing momentum.
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Why Cyber Monday could break spending records despite economic uncertainty
NEW YORK (AP) — Deals promoted as some of the best of the holiday season are expected to keep people across the United States glued to their computers and smartphones as the post-Thanksgiving shopping marathon wraps up on Cyber Monday. n nIt’s no secret that buying things online is now a staple of many people’s everyday routines. And year after year, those purchases mount during the gift-giving holiday rush. Experts expect consumers to drive record Cyber Monday spending this year, even amid wider economic uncertainty. n nAdobe Analytics has estimated that U.S. shoppers will spend $14.2 billion online Monday, or 6.3% more than in 2024. They already spent $11.8 billion online for Black Friday and another $6.4 billion on Thanksgiving Day, exceeding Adobe’s forecasts. n nConsumer spending for Cyber Week — the five major shopping days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday — provides a strong indication of how much shoppers are willing to spend for the holidays. n n“Cyber Week is off to a strong start,” Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights, said. “Discounts are set to remain elevated through Cyber Monday, which we expect will remain the biggest online shopping day of the season and year.” n nDeals on electronics and apparel are poised to peak Monday at 30% and 26% off average listed prices, per Adobe’s latest estimates. n nWhile the amount of money going into online shopping carts is expected to reach new heights as consumers try to get the biggest bangs for their bucks while they can, rising retail prices also may contribute to any record sales figures that materialize. n nBusinesses and households have watched anxiously for financial impacts from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on foreign imports. Workers in both the public and private sectors are also struggling with anxieties over job security amid both corporate layoffs and the after-effects of the 43-day government shutdown. n nFor the November-December holiday season overall, the National Retail Federation estimates that U.S. shoppers will spend more than $1 trillion for the first time this year. But the rate of growth is slowing — with an anticipated increase of 3.7% to 4.2% year over year, compared to 4.3% during last year’s holiday season. n nAt the same time, credit card debt and delinquencies on other short-term loans have been rising. More and more shoppers are turning to “buy now, pay later” plans, which allow them to delay payments on holiday decor, gifts and other items. n nBuy now, pay later loans are expected to drive $20.2 billion in online spending this holiday season, according to Adobe, up 11% from last year. The firm predicted that buy now, pay later loans would pass a new $1 billion milestone on Cyber Monday, the vast majority involving purchases made on mobile devices. n nOverall, mobile devices have become the dominant shopping platform consumers are turning to for the holidays. Adobe expects smartphones, wearable tech and other handheld electronics to account for 56.1% of online spending this season, worth a total of $142.7 billion. n nFive years ago, a majority of online purchases were made on desktops. n nShopping services powered by artificial intelligence are also expected to play a role in what consumers choose to buy. Software company Salesforce estimated that AI asssitants and digital agents contributed to $14.2 billion of the total $79 billion it said was spent online worldwide on Black Friday. n nCyber Monday’s “hot sellers” will include gaming consoles such as the Nintendo Switch 2 and toys-turned-fashion statements like Labubu Dolls, Adobe said. The analystics firm anticipates the newest editions of popular consumer electronics — including the iPhone 17, Google Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S25 — will also see high demand. n nTo many, Cyber Monday is billed as the “last call” to take advantage of the deepest discounts in the days following Thanksgiving. But its reach has grown over the years. n nCyber Monday is two decades old now, dating back to when the National Retail Federation first coined the term in 2005. Today, sales continue to bubble up throughout the week — riding on the hype that the industry has built to fuel consumer spending.