Holidays online

With the US Thanksgiving holiday just a week away, while Americans prepare to welcome family and friends for dinner, retailers are gearing up for the busy shopping season. With five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, analysts expect slower holiday sales growth this year. While many consumers enjoy the mayhem of the Black Friday retail sales events that follow Thanksgiving, others prefer to shop from the comfort of their couch. According to the US Census Bureau, ecommerce sales rose 7.3% YoY compared to 2.1% growth in total retail sales in 3Q24. With ecommerce sales expanding faster, the segment accounted for 16.2% of total retail sales in 3Q24, up from 6.5% a decade ago, and just below the 16.4% reached in 2Q20 when Covid restrictions limited in-store shopping.

Source: US Census Bureau, November 2024