NEW YORK (AP) – The post-Thanksgiving shopping frenzy is set to culminate on Cyber Monday, with deals that are considered among the best of the holiday season prompting consumers across the United States to engage in online shopping. Buying items online has evolved into a vital component of everyday life for many, and this trend is expected to intensify during the holiday shopping rush.
Experts anticipate record spending on Cyber Monday, with Adobe Analytics estimating that U.S. shoppers will spend approximately $14.2 billion online that day, marking a 6.3% increase from the previous year. Consumers have already shown strong spending patterns, having spent $11.8 billion online on Black Friday and another $6.4 billion on Thanksgiving Day, exceeding Adobe's earlier forecasts.
The performance of consumer spending during Cyber Week—the five major shopping days that follow Thanksgiving—is a strong indicator of the overall holiday spending. Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights, remarked that “Cyber Week is off to a strong start,” and discounts are expected to remain significant through Cyber Monday, which is anticipated to be the biggest online shopping day of the year.
According to Adobe's estimates, discounts on electronics will peak at around 30%, while apparel will see average price reductions of 26%. This heightened spending, however, may also be influenced by rising retail prices, which could contribute to the record sales figures anticipated.
Consumers and businesses alike are feeling the pressure of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on imported goods, as fears regarding job security have also emerged due to corporate layoffs and the repercussions of the lengthy government shutdown. The National Retail Federation has projected that U.S. shoppers will surpass $1 trillion in spending during the November-December holiday season for the first time this year, though growth rates are expected to slow, with an increase of only 3.7% to 4.2% year-over-year.
As credit card debt and delinquencies on short-term loans rise, many shoppers are opting for “buy now, pay later” plans, which allow them to delay payments for holiday gifts, decorations, and more. Adobe predicts that these loans will contribute $20.2 billion to online spending this holiday season, representing an 11% increase from last year. They anticipate that buy now, pay later loans will surpass $1 billion in usage by Cyber Monday, predominantly involving mobile device purchases.
This year, mobile devices have taken center stage, representing a major shift in shopping habits. Adobe forecasts that smartphones, wearable technology, and other handheld devices will account for 56.1% of online spending, totaling $142.7 billion this season. Just five years ago, most online purchases were made from desktops.
Furthermore, consumer behaviors are evolving with the integration of artificial intelligence in shopping. Salesforce estimates that AI-driven assistants and digital agents helped generate $14.2 billion of the $79 billion spent online globally on Black Friday.
This Cyber Monday, popular items are expected to include high-demand gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch 2 and trendy toys like Labubu Dolls. Additionally, there is speculation about strong consumer interest in the latest versions of popular electronics, such as the iPhone 17, Google Pixel 10, and Samsung Galaxy S25.
Originally coined by the National Retail Federation in 2005, Cyber Monday has transcended its role as a single day of sales, evolving into a week-long event that fosters an environment of consumer excitement and spending. As a result, the influence of this “last call” for holiday bargains continues to expand, reflecting broader trends in online shopping and consumer behavior.
