The National Retail Federation sees a new holiday record, despite weak seasonal hiring and rising loan delinquencies.
More than half of Gen Z and millennials plan to buy directly through social media platforms.
Advertisers need to ensure that their products are visible on AI-powered search and shopping platforms.
Self-gifters are "emotionally motivated yet deliberate," a combination that makes them particularly valuable for advertisers.
A new survey finds shoppers still ready to spend nearly $890 each, even as other forecasts point to tighter budgets.
Consumers have the gloomiest view of the economy since 1997 and are looking for new ways to find value.
Mobile devices will dominate digital shopping, accounting for 56% of sales.
ICSC sees holiday sales rising up to 4%, with shoppers eager for connection and deals.
Adobe sees $253 billion in ecommerce spending, while Circana warns consumer unease is setting up the most volatile season yet.
About one in five of U.S. consumers say they will shop earlier than usual to avoid price hikes.
Kearney data shows store loyalty collapsing as shoppers chase better prices, forcing retailers to rethink holiday strategies.
The sharpest cutbacks are coming from Gen Z, who anticipate trimming holiday budgets by 23%.
Brands face a new imperative: optimizing for discovery in AI-driven environments.
Financial concerns are the leading source of holiday stress, cited by 25% of respondents.
Connected television this year is expected to be the second-most used advertising channel for holiday campaigns, up from third place last year.
Choosing between low-priced or American-made products, 39% of shoppers mostly value affordability, a feature associated with imports.
The National Retail Federation predicts record spending on all the usual suspects: candy, flowers, cards and restaurants.
Mobile shopping was highest on Christmas Day, driving 65% of online sales.
The last five days of the holiday season made up 10% of all holiday spending.
A resurgence of in-store shopping continues, while a monstrous Cyber Monday pushed weekend online sales to a new high of $41.1 billion.
Big discounts for a variety of products, especially toys and electronics, drove this year's spending.
Deloitte's latest forecast points to record spending but also detects a sharper focus on deal-finding.
Kroger and Meijer pile on the price-cut meal packages, as 38% of consumers say they're shopping ahead of schedule.
Circana reports flat sales in the first nine months, with sales expected to add 2% in the holiday quarter.
Consumers will gather information from three to four different sources before making a purchase.
Surveys from both the National Retail Federation and ICSC predict resilient shoppers will spend about 3% more than last year.
Deloitte's new forecast sees an 8% gain in holiday spending. Those earning $100,000 to $199,000 say they'll spend 17% more than last year.
Holiday shopping is projected to rise 7%, although 57% of respondents to a PwC survey describe their financial situation as strained.
Almost a third of consumers said they'll spend less this holiday season, with Gen X and baby boomers generally planning to cut back.
Nine out of 10 Americans said they'll spend the same or less compared with last year.