The National Retail Federation reports that Thanksgiving weekend is shaping up to be the busiest shopping period ever, with an estimated 186.9 million people planning to shop between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday. Retailers are preparing for strong demand as holiday budgets remain a priority for many households.
Black Friday continues to be the top shopping day, with more than two-thirds of consumers expected to participate. Cyber Monday remains a close second. Many shoppers also plan to visit stores on Saturday, with a significant share saying they want to support local businesses and the Small Business Saturday tradition.
Early November data shows that most consumers have already begun their holiday shopping and have completed about one quarter of their planned purchases. Popular gift ideas this year include clothing, gift cards, and toys. Gift card spending alone is projected to exceed $29 billion.
Debit cards remain the most common payment method, followed by credit cards, while digital wallets continue to see steady use. Most shoppers also say they plan to take part in charitable activities during the season, including donations or supporting retailers that contribute to community causes.
NRF’s broader holiday forecast anticipates that total spending in November and December will surpass one trillion dollars for the first time.
