US online sales hit whopping $10.8bn in Black Friday shopping frenzy: report

Shoppers in the United States have approximately spent a whopping $10.8 billion, collectively, on Black Friday, The News reported citing data from an updated report from Adobe Analytics.

Black Friday, a shopping day which follows Thanksgiving, marks the official kickoff of the holday shopping season, drawing intense competition among retailers vying for budget-conscious consumers searching for discounts.

However, the surge in online shopping is particularly advantageous for e-commerce giants like Amazon and Walmart.

Walmart, with its 4,700 US locations, has heavily invested in enhancing its store-to-home delivery services to further boost its e-commerce performance during the holiday rush.

Adobe reported a 10.2% increase in online spending for Black Friday, tracking over one trillion visits to US retail sites.

Corey Coscioni, 58, said he looked for bargains online as well as in stores on Black Friday, seeking "gifts for everyone: my wife, my daughter, and myself".

Top selling merchandise online included makeup, skincare and haircare products, as well as bluetooth speakers and espresso machines, Adobe said on Saturday.

Online sales of toys rose 622% compared to average daily sales in October, while jewellery sales rose 561% and appliances spiked 476% compared to October, it added.

Major separtment store chains as well as big-box retailers could see muted sales this season, which is shorter with only 26 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

In 2023, US shoppers spent $9.8 billion online on Black Friday, and in 2022, they spent $9.1 billion, Adobe said.