Black Friday sales were higher than a year ago, both online and in stores as consumers continue to navigate an uncertain economic environment. Shoppers are hitting stores earlier, making use of promotions, and investing in wish-list items, according to Mastercard Economics Institute chief economist Michelle Meyer.
Mastercard SpendingPulse said U.S. retail sales excluding autos rose 4.1% compared with Black Friday 2024. E-commerce sales jumped 10.4% from last year, while in-store sales rose a more modest 1.7%, Mastercard said.
Adobe put Black Friday online sales at $11.8 billion.
People were shopping online even before Black Friday. According to Adobe Analytics, U.S. consumers spent a record $6.4 billion online on Thanksgiving itself, up 5.3% from a year ago. That compares with the company’s initial forecast of $6.37 billion for the day, which would have represented 4.9%.