What:AI-powered shopping tools drove US Black Friday online sales to a record $11.8 billion, with consumers favouring digital channels amid economic pressures.

Why it is important: The record sales highlight the growing influence of AI tools in retail and the sector’s adaptation to economic challenges.

US Black Friday online sales reached a record $11.8 billion, marking a 9.1 percent increase from the previous year, as AI-powered shopping tools became central to the consumer experience. Shoppers increasingly bypassed crowded stores, turning to chatbots and AI-driven platforms to compare prices and secure discounts, especially as inflation and tariffs raised concerns about higher prices. AI-driven traffic to retail sites soared by over 800 percent, with major retailers like Walmart and Amazon deploying advanced AI assistants to streamline the shopping process. Despite tighter budgets, rising unemployment, and subdued consumer confidence, e-commerce outpaced in-store sales, with online demand growing over 10 percent compared to just 1.7 percent for physical stores. Globally, AI agents influenced $14.2 billion in online sales, with luxury apparel and accessories among the top-performing categories. However, higher prices and flat discount rates meant consumers purchased fewer items per transaction, reflecting a more cautious approach amid economic uncertainty. The combination of digital innovation and adaptive retail strategies is reshaping the holiday shopping landscape.

IADS Notes: Throughout 2025, generative AI traffic to US retailers surged by over 800%, with AI-driven shoppers showing higher conversion rates and prompting retailers to accelerate digital strategies (Forbes, Nov 2025). Retailers rapidly integrated AI-powered search and analytics to optimise promotions and drive record sales, with nearly two in five shoppers leveraging these tools during major events (Retail Week, Oct 2025). Economic pressures, including inflation and tariffs, led to more targeted pricing and supply chain strategies (The Robin Report, Sep 2025). Meanwhile, luxury and discretionary categories remained resilient, as brands expanded digital offerings to attract broader audiences despite sector contraction (Visa, Nov 2025).

AI helps drive record $11.8 billion in Black Friday online spending