Online sales in the U.S. on theThanksgiving holiday are expected to rise 6% compared with last year to reach
$8.6 billion, data from Salesforce showed on Thursday, suggesting shoppers were
lapping up steep discounts from retailers to splurge amid tariff-induced
macroeconomic uncertainty.
As of 2 p.m. ET (1900 GMT), Thanksgivingspending in the U.S. was 5.8% higher than at the same time last year, reaching
$2.6 billion, the data showed.
Thanksgiving and the day after, BlackFriday, usher in the holiday shopping season, a critical stretch that typically
delivers about a third of U.S. retailers’ yearly salesand profits.
This year’s kickoffcomes amid economic uncertainty and heightened volatility from President Donald
Trump’s tariffs on imported goods, which have raisedcosts for both retailers and consumers.
Latest results from American retailers haveshown that shoppers are willing to buy gifts, electronics, clothes and more on
good discounts, despite weak consumer sentiment overall.
Global spending has reached $13.1 billionso far on Thanksgiving, and digital sales are expected to reach $36 billion
globally by the end of Thursday, Salesforce data showed.
Black Friday, which is the biggest day ofthe year for online shopping, is expected to drive $78 billion in online global
sales and $18 billion in the U.S., according to Salesforce, a cloud-based
software company.
Earlier this week, electronics retailerBest Buy said its computers, laptops and smartphones on discount were in demand
among holiday shoppers while clothing retailers Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch
also seemed upbeat.
Several holiday sales forecasts projectedthis year’s holiday season would be muted, withMastercard data suggesting sales would be driven by promotions as consumers
seek value for their money.
Salesforce in September projected U.S.online sales growth during the 2025 holiday season would slow from last year,
with online spending between November 1 and December 31 expected to rise 2.1%
to $288 billion, versus a 4% increase to $282 billion in the same period last
year.