Cyber Monday is projected to conclude the post-Thanksgiving shopping marathon with record-breaking online spending, estimated at $14.2 billion in the U.S. alone. Despite wider economic uncertainty, consumers are leveraging deep discounts on electronics, apparel, and toys, with mobile devices and 'buy now, pay later' options fueling a significant portion of purchases.
Cyber Monday is expected to culminate the post-Thanksgiving shopping period by setting new online spending records, with Adobe Analytics projecting $14.2 billion in U.S. sales, a 6.3% increase from the previous year. Spending is anticipated to peak between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. local time, reaching $16 million per minute. This surge follows strong performance on Black Friday ($11.8 billion), Thanksgiving Day ($6.4 billion), and the preceding weekend ($11.8 billion), indicating robust consumer willingness to spend for the holidays. Discounts are key, with electronics expected to be 30% off, apparel 26% off, and toys 27% off. Salesforce estimates U.S. Cyber Monday sales at $13.4 billion, with global sales reaching $53.7 billion. Despite these record figures, wider economic uncertainty, including potential impacts from tariffs, job insecurity, and rising retail prices, means consumers are shopping more strategically. They are focusing on 'big ticket' items and spreading purchases across promotions to maximize value, potentially buying fewer total items. The National Retail Federation forecasts over $1 trillion in total holiday spending for the first time, though the growth rate is slowing. A notable trend is the increasing reliance on 'buy now, pay later' (BNPL) plans, projected to drive $20.2 billion in online spending this holiday season, with Cyber Monday alone expected to hit a $1 billion BNPL milestone, largely via mobile devices. Mobile platforms now dominate online shopping, accounting for 58% of spending, a significant shift from five years ago when desktops were primary. AI-powered shopping services also played a role, contributing to billions in Black Friday sales. Popular items include gaming consoles, specific toys like Labubu Dolls, and new models of smartphones. Cyber Monday, a concept originated by the National Retail Federation in 2005, continues to be a major event, with sales extending throughout the week.
