Thanksgiving Shoppers Up, Average Spend Down

Consumers spent $3.34 billion shopping online on Friday, a 21.6 percent increase from the same day previous year, according to Adobe, which tracks online retail transactions. While the promotions offered during this period were probably preplanned and thus baked into the retailers’ sales plans, it could prove a troublesome dynamic for them if ultra-deep discounts end up being needed all season long to get people shopping.

While more people were shopping this year than last – 154m compared to 151m – their average spend declined slightly, from $299.60 to $289.19, the NRF reported. This Thanksgiving tradition is very popular in college cities, especially, and for families who are preparing to purchase gifts to go under their Christmas tree.

Adobe said it tracks 80 percent of all online transactions at the top 100 USA retailers.

While the figure might seem low, it continues the trend from a year ago of more shoppers choosing to stay in the comfort of their own homes to make their Black Friday purchases, instead of having to wrestle their way through crowded stores.

The survey also found that only nine percent of consumers have finished their holiday shopping, down from 11 percent a year ago. Delivered at 11 a.m. Monday-Friday. Amazon, Walmart, Target, and eBay all recorded substantially higher mobile traffic and sales.

Preliminary data from retail research firm ShopperTrak showed that shopper visits to such stores fell a combined 1 percent during Thanksgiving and Black Friday when compared with the same days in 2015. Shoppers were advised to wait 10 seconds, then refresh the page, and given an 800-number to place their orders.

Sanchez went on to say that as time goes on many things will continue to change but it’s up to shoppers to determine which direction things may go.

“They said “free gun” and I came running”, said Nathan Brown, a resident of Wilmington.

NRF officials attributed the difference mostly to heavy discounting brought on by a “promotional environment” in stores. “Handbags. Sketchers” and “anything that would be of great value for us that wouldn’t be in Dublin”.

Adobe (Nasdaq:ADBE) today released its 2016 online shopping data for Black Friday and Thanksgiving Day. It’s considered the official kickoff to the online holiday shopping season, where consumers seek out the best deals online. Millennials – ages 18 to 34 – drove the increase in shopping during Thanksgiving weekend.

Black Friday sales rose 21.6 percent to $3.34 billion, with purchases made on mobile devices contributing more than $1 billion in revenue, both record sales for the day. “But Cyber Monday may not have as much gas left in the tank”.

Thanksgiving and Black Friday are gaining on Cyber Monday as bonanzas for online shopping.