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Terrence O'Brien
Black Friday spending was up around 10 percent this year.
In a sign that consumers may be focused heavily on scoring deals and discounts this holiday season, spending was up significantly from 2024. Depending on the metric you use, spending was up between 9 and 11 percent. It might not be an indicator of what to expect for the rest of the holiday season, however, according to the New York Times:
Economists are looking at this year’s holiday sales as an indicator of how the economy is doing amid economic challenges: the longest government shutdown, changes to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and a weakening job market. Despites the strong Black Friday sales this year, analysts say that may not reflect how retailers will perform overall this holiday season.
