Adobe Analytics says Americans will spend 6.3% more this year, extending record-setting Black Friday momentum and marking a major shift toward AI-driven consumer decisions.
U.S. consumers are expected to spend $14.2 billion on Cyber Monday, according to Adobe Analytics, as a surge in AI-powered shopping tools accelerates online buying and builds on a record-breaking Black Friday.
Cyber Monday — traditionally the biggest online shopping day in the United States — is projected to rise 6.3% year-over-year, capping a strong Thanksgiving holiday weekend despite concerns over tariff-driven price increases.
Black Friday online sales hit a historic $11.8 billion, Adobe said, driven largely by shoppers using AI chatbots and recommendation tools to compare prices, locate discounts, and bypass browsing altogether.
“AI is the ultimate purchase accelerator,” said Caila Schwartz, director of Consumer Insights at Salesforce. “It guides consumers with clear intent straight to the buy button.”
ELECTRONICS, APPAREL & FURNITURE DOMINATE SPENDING
Adobe says more than half of all Cyber Monday spending will come from three categories:
- Electronics
- Apparel
- Furniture
With holiday budgets squeezed by inflation and tariff-driven uncertainty, consumers are racing to complete their gift lists early — and retailers are structuring promotions accordingly.
Retailers have become more strategic with discounts this year, shifting to earlier and more extended promotions to capture demand:
- Walmart began holiday sales Nov. 14, stretching through Dec. 1
- Walmart+ members received exclusive early-access windows
- Other retailers launched “rolling deals” to keep shoppers engaged
AI TRAFFIC SURGES 670%
AI-driven traffic to retail websites is expected to grow 670% compared to 2024, Adobe reported — a leap fueled by consumer-facing tools now embedded across major platforms, including:
- Walmart’s Sparky
- Amazon’s Rufus
- Retailer-specific chatbots and price-matching algorithms
These AI assistants are rapidly replacing traditional browsing behavior by directing users instantly to low-price matches or customized product bundles.
Adobe tracks one trillion visits across U.S. retail websites and analyzes more than 100 million product SKUs, giving it one of the most granular views of online consumer behavior.
Analysts say this year marks the first holiday season where AI is measurably shaping spending patterns, accelerating decision-making and pulling consumers deeper into online ecosystems.
