Winter holidays historical highlights

Historical highlights show the change in consumer behavior and holiday shopping sales from year over year. Data may have changed due to ongoing U.S. Census Bureau revisions. The following resources contain data that was current at the time of reporting.

2022 Historical highlights

Record 166.3 Million Shoppers Expected During Thanksgiving Weekend
 
Nearly 8 million more people than last year are expected to shop from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday this year.
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Record 196.7 Million Consumers Shop Over Thanksgiving Weekend
 
The total number of shoppers grew by nearly 17 million from 2021.
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Record 158 Million Shoppers Expected During Super Saturday
 
More than 158 million plan to shop on the last Saturday before Christmas this year.
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First Half of Holiday Season Shows Strong Year-Over-Year Results
 
November dipped from early holiday shopping in October but still saw year-over-year growth.
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What to expect from consumer spending this holiday season
 
A look at NRF’s holiday sales forecast and how inflation is impacting consumer behavior.
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2022 Holiday Sales Grew 5.3% to $936.3 Billion
 
2022 holiday sales grew 5.3% over 2021 to $936.3 billion, falling short of NRF's forecast, but annual sales grew 7%.
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2021 Historical highlights

Thanksgiving Weekend to See More Holiday Shoppers
 
Nearly 2 million more people than last year are expected to shop from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday this year.
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Holiday Spending Reflects Consumer Demand
 
Consumers plan to spend $997.73 on gifts, holiday items and other non-gift purchases this year.
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3 key factors that led to a record-setting holiday season
 
Consumers turned out to shop despite concerns around supply chain, inflation and omicron.
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Holiday Sales Grew 14.1 Percent to $886.7 Billion
 
Retail sales grew 14.1 percent to a record $886.7 billion, beating NRF's forecast despite inflation and the pandemic.
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November Retail Sales Put Holiday Season on Track to Set New Records
 
Retail sales continued to grow in November, putting the 2021 holiday season on the home stretch for record spending.
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148 Million Americans Plan to Shop Super Saturday
 
More than 148 million consumers plan to shop in-store and online on the last Saturday before Christmas this year.
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Monthly Economic Review: December 2021
 
Now that we’re in December, the holiday shopping season is nearing the finish line.
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180 Million Shop Over Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend
 
Nearly 180 million Americans shopped during the Thanksgiving weekend five-day holiday shopping period.
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Holiday Shoppers 'Spending Because They Can'
 
The pandemic will be a key factor in 2021 holiday sales but NRF is confident in its forecast for record growth.
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2020 Historical highlights

NRF Launches “New Holiday Traditions” Campaign
 
NRF is launching a nationwide consumer education campaign to encourage consumers to shop safe and shop early.
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Consumers Prioritize Spending on Family, Friends Ahead of Holiday Season
 
As the coronavirus pandemic extends into the winter holiday season, consumers are looking to purchase gifts that bring j
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Earlier Start to Holiday Shopping Season Embraced by Consumers
 
Earlier Start to Holiday Shopping Season Embraced by Consumers
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October retail sales grew as consumers started holiday shopping early
 
Retail sales grew for the sixth month in a row in October, with sales significantly better than a year ago.
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NRF expects holiday sales will grow between 3.6 and 5.2 percent
 
NRF expects holiday sales will increase to between $755.3 billion and $766.7 billion.
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Holiday Shoppers Take Advantage of Early, Thanksgiving Weekend Deals
 
Holiday Shoppers Take Advantage of Early, Thanksgiving Weekend Deals Primary tabs
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November retail sales give holiday season solid start
 
November retail sales dipped from the month before but still showed the sixth consecutive monthly year-over-year gain.
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More than 150 Million Plan to Shop on Super Saturday
 
Consumers have embraced an earlier start to the holiday season.
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NRF says 2020 holiday sales grew 8.3 percent despite pandemic
 
Retail sales during 2020’s November-December holiday season grew an unexpectedly high 8.3 percent over 2019.
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2019 Historical highlights

Nearly 148 million Americans plan to shop Super Saturday
 
Super Saturday is the biggest shopping day of the year with an estimated 147.8 million consumers expected to partcipate.
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Half of holiday shoppers have already started
 
Over half of consumers have already started their holiday shopping according to survey from NRF
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More than 165 million people expected to shop over five-day Thanksgiving weekend
 
NRF expects more than 165 million people to shop Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday
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Thanksgiving weekend draws nearly 190 million shoppers, spending up 16 percent
 
Thanksgiving weekend drew nearly 190 million shoppers according to NRF and Prosper Insights
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Holiday shoppers plan to spend 4 percent more this year
 
Consumers plan to spend 4 percent more this year on holiday shopping
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NRF forecasts holiday sales will grow between 3.8 and 4.2 percent
 
NRF forecasts holiday retail sales to grow between 3.8 and 4.2 percent, citing uncertainty over trade
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2018 Historical highlights

Procrastinators rush to meet holiday deadline
 
Procrastinating shoppers rush to meet holiday deadline
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Thanksgiving weekend multichannel shopping up almost 40 percent over last year
 
Multichanell shopping during Thanksgiving weekend was up 40 percent over last year.
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Holiday Special: Thanksgiving weekend and beyond
 
Episode 89 of Retail Gets Real: Retail saw a strong start to the holiday season.
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5 things to know about discounts this holiday season
 
5 retail sales and promotions trends leading up to Thanksgiving weekend.
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Young adults most likely to spend more this holiday season
 
Most consumers plan to spend the same as last year according to a survey from NRF.
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More than 164 million consumers plan to shop over Thanksgiving weekend and Cyber Monday
 
Black Friday will remain busiest shopping day of the weekend.
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Consumers will spend 4.1 percent more than last year during winter holidays
 
Consumers will spend $1,007.24 during the 2018 holiday season.
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2017 Historical highlights

Holiday retail sales increased 5.5 percent in 2017, exceeding NRF forecast and showing strongest gain since Great Recession
 
Holiday sales during November and December increased 5.5 percent over the same period in 2016 to $691.9 billion.
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Procrastination nation: holiday shoppers rushing to meet deadline
 
126 million consumers to shop on Super Saturday
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Consumers and retailers win big over Thanksgiving holiday
 
Thanksgiving weekend, including Cyber Monday, attracted more than 174 million shopping both online and in-store.
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Almost half of younger consumers plan to spend more during the holidays
 
In a new question this year, the survey found that 38 percent of consumers plan to donate money to a charity or cause.
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More than 164 million consumers plan to shop over Thanksgiving weekend and Cyber Monday
 
Black Friday will remain busiest shopping day of the weekend.
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NRF forecasts holiday sales to increase between 3.6 and 4 percent
 
Holiday sales to reach between $678 - $682 billion
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NRF consumer survey points to busy holiday season, backs up economic forecast and import numbers
 
Online shopping will be a hit this holiday season
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2016 Historical highlights

156 million Americans plan to shop on Super Saturday
 
156 Million Americans are Shopping on Super Saturday
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Retailers made Black Friday irresistible for consumers with great deals, online and in-store
 
More than 154 million consumers shopped over Thanksgiving weekend.
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More than 122M consumers plan to shop online on Cyber Monday
 
Cyber Monday shoppers ready for deals
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More than half of consumers have already started holiday shopping
 
Shoppers eager to take advantage of early promotions from retailers.
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137.4M consumers plan to shop Thanksgiving weekend
 
Black Friday will remain busiest shopping day of the weekend.
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Retailers to prepare for post-election holiday shopping
 
Consumers put themselves at the top of shopping lists.
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NRF forecasts holiday sales to increase 3.6 percent
 
Holiday sales to reach $655.8 billion.
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