Catalyst Brand CEO Mark Rosen comments on Black Friday and the holiday shopping season on “Craman Countdown.”
On this year’s Black Friday, online spending reached a record $11.8 billion as American shoppers focused on artificial intelligence (AI) to an unprecedented extent and many consumers chose to shop from home to avoid crowded stores.
On the busiest shopping day of the year, U.S. online spending rose 9.1% year over year, and Americans increasingly relied on AI-powered chatbots to compare prices and track transactions, according to new data from Adobe Analytics.
AI-driven traffic to US retail websites surged 805% this year compared to 2024, when tools like Walmart’s Sparky and Amazon’s Rufus were not yet available.
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An unprecedented number of U.S. shoppers turned to AI this Black Friday, with online spending reaching a record $11.8 billion as many consumers chose to shop from home and avoid crowded stores. (Tijana Simic/iStock/Getty Images/Getty Images)
“Consumers are using new tools to get what they need faster,” eMarketer analyst Suzy Davidkhanian told Reuters. “Giving gifts can be stressful, [large language models] The discovery process will feel faster and more guided. ”
Adobe’s research also found that nearly half of U.S. shoppers are already using or plan to use AI to help them shop online this season.
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People line up outside the On sneaker store during the Black Friday sale at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets in the Central Valley on November 28, 2025 in Woodbury, New York. (Reuters/Jessica DiNapoli/File Photo/Reuters)
Some of the most popular items this Black Friday included Pokemon cards, Lego sets, Apple AirPods, KitchenAid mixers, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and more.
The Black Friday surge in online spending followed another record-setting day during the Thanksgiving period.
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An employee folds clothes at Macy’s department store during Black Friday at Roosevelt Field Mall on November 28, 2025 in Garden City, New York. (Reuters/Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)
Consumers spent a record $6.4 billion online over Thanksgiving, thanks in part to a surge in discounts.
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According to Adobe Analytics, spending increased 5.3% compared to a year ago as shoppers took advantage of stronger-than-expected Cyber Week sales.
Reuters and FOX Business’ Daniela Genovese contributed to this report.
