The recent holiday weekend — spanning National Retail Federation (NRF)’s key shopping days from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday — drew a record‑breaking 203 million shoppers across online and physical retail, according to NRF data.
Surge in Shoppers and Spending
NRF reports nearly 130 million Americans visited stores, a 3% increase from last year, while about 135 million shopped online — up 9% over 2024. On average, consumers spent approximately $338, marking a rise from the prior year’s average.
What’s Driving the Momentum
The Thanksgiving–Cyber Monday window appears to have set the stage for what many expect will be the first‑ever $1 trillion U.S. holiday shopping season. While inflation and tariff pressures remain a concern, strong turnout — both online and offline — underscores consumer interest when deals align with timing and value.
Retailers across the spectrum — from big‑box giants to specialty stores — attracted shoppers with aggressive discounts and wide merchandise assortments. Online platforms saw especially strong engagement, reflecting continuing shifts in consumer behavior since the pandemic.
What It Means for Retailers & Omnichannel Strategy
For retailers, the numbers reinforce the value of combining digital and physical channels — a true omnichannel approach. With strong performance across both online and in‑store channels, businesses that invest in inventory visibility, seamless checkout experiences, and cross‑channel fulfillment likely captured outsized gains.
As the season continues, retailers will need to balance supply‑chain agility, inventory management, and consumer demand to sustain momentum. If this weekend is any indication, holiday 2025 could rewrite retail records — and offer a roadmap for omnichannel execution going forward.
