Last month, we released an article highlighting our predictions for the coming Cyber Week surge in retail traffic. Based on data from the National Retail Federation’s report, we predicted that economic uncertainty would influence consumer behavior, and that despite financial challenges, sales were expected to grow regardless of widespread financial insecurity.
Now, after over 200 million consumers have turned out to participate in the Cyber Week shopping excitement, the NRF has released their reflections from this year’s sales. This report, in comparison with our predictions, will help us to provide insights into how consumer behavior has changed since the previous year and understand what retailers can do going forward to maximize revenue during the holiday season.
Below are key findings from the Cyber Week shopping surge, and takeaways for business owners looking to take advantage of the holiday hype.
Consumers are spending more consciously
Online spending was up, but rate of growth is slowing. Surpassing many predictions, sales this Cyber Week grew between 6-7% compared to 2024. However, last year’s sales grew by 8.2% from 2023, signaling a decline in growth going forward. With economic insecurity on the rise, more consumers are looking for value, and thus we’ve noticed more shoppers are turning to buy now pay later options to finance larger purchases. Analysts report that buy now pay later options are utilized more frequently as time goes on, with an 8.9% growth rate year-over-year. Shoppers made fewer impulse buys this year, as well, as consumers study prices carefully to avoid over-spending.
Use of AI was at an all-time high
Retailers relied on AI to drive traffic and sales at a much higher rate than previous years, as AI chatbots helped increase efficiency and improve the customer experience. AI has allowed for considerable growth this holiday season, influencing 20% of global sales, accounting for $67 billion in Cyber Week revenue. AI chatbots have exceeded their initial capabilities, with consumers using chatbot support and other AI features to compare prices, get discounts, update shipping addresses, or initiate returns.
Mobile led the way, and in-store traffic was down
129.5 million shoppers made purchases in store this year during Cyber Week– a 3% increase year-over-year. However, shopping online rather than in-person continues to become more common, with a 9% growth rate year-over-year and 134.9 million shoppers filling up their virtual carts at home. Mobile is the main online shopping platform consumers are turning to, with the majority of financing options being utilized on mobile devices. This year, 46.9 million shoppers used their mobile devices to take advantage of Cyber Week deals, up from 40.4 million in 2024.
Takeaways for retailers
—With financial challenges continuing to influence buying behaviors, retailers are starting to offer promotions even earlier every year. The competition is serious in the retail industry as merchants try to take advantage of the excitement to drive more traffic, and consumers continue to hunt for the best prices.
—Artificial Intelligence technology continues to help businesses provide faster, more productive shopping experiences for their customers. AI isn’t slowing down, so make it part of your strategy in 2026 to get ahead.
—As more customers shop on their mobile devices year-over-year, UX design and mobile adaptability remain the core focus for improving the customer experience to optimize for increased conversions during the next Cyber Week cycle.
—Shopify, the eCommerce platform provider responsible for 10% of all U.S. retail sales, experience a devastating outage on the busiest online shopping day of the year. Down for over 5 hours, Shopify storefronts were still operational, but merchants couldn’t access their backend system to fulfill orders, respond to customer requests, or even log in. When choosing a platform to power your business, you’re relinquishing a great deal of control and responsibility to the platform provider, so it’s imperative to choose a tech partner you can trust.
As we reflect on emerging trends and steady growth in others, consider which strategies will help your business succeed in the coming years. Regardless of which strategy you choose, you will need an eCommerce platform that can keep up. Virid’s eCommerce platform marketAgility was designed with care by a small team of experts who know what it takes to operate an eCommerce store, so any eCommerce challenge that comes your way, we’re ready for. Our 20+ years of experience combined with continuous dedication and support are the key to long-term, sustainable eCommerce growth. Schedule a consultation today to get started!