US online sales surge on Black Friday

US Black Friday retail spending showed mixed results, with brick-and-mortar stores seeing only a 0.7 per cent increase, while e-commerce sales surged by 14.6 per cent.

Mastercard’s preliminary estimates revealed lower in-store sales, with Facteus data showing a 5.4 per cent decline in physical store purchases, though online sales grew by 11.1 per cent. After factoring in inflation, in-store spending dropped further, while online sales remained strong, reflecting a shift to digital shopping.

Notable online platforms like Amazon and Walmart benefited from increased mobile and desktop shopping, while retailers such as Macy’s, Kohl’s, and Target saw subdued sales.

Overall, US spending rose 3.4 per cent, with e-commerce platforms such as Shein, Temu, and TikTok Shop showing growth. According to Adobe, Americans spent $10.8 billion online, up 10.2 per cent from last year, with makeup, Bluetooth speakers, and espresso machines being top sellers. Salesforce reported a 7 per cent rise in online sales, totaling $17.5 billion, driven by home appliances and furniture.

Attribution: Reuters

Subediting: M. S. Salama