Winter Holidays

NRF’s holiday surveys gauge consumer sentiment and shopping trends during the holiday season, including Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Super Saturday and Christmas. Check out NRF's Winter holidays FAQs and our Winter holidays historical highlights for more information on the latest holiday season and years past. Check back often to stay up to date on retail's busiest season.

Record number of shoppers expected over Thanksgiving holiday weekend

A record 183.4 million people are planning to shop in-store and online from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday.

 
Customer shopping for Black Friday.
2024 holiday spending expected to reach new record

Consumer spending on the winter holidays is expected to reach a record $902 per person on average across gifts, food, decorations and other seasonal items, according to the National Retail Federation’s consumer survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics.

A Family shopping for the holidays.
Steady sales growth expected for 2024 holiday season

The National Retail Federation forecast that winter holiday spending is expected to grow between 2.5% and 3.5% over 2023.

Holiday wreath
 
NRF's 2024 holiday retail sales outlook webinar

NRF’s Executive Director of Research Mark Mathews and Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen discussed NRF’s 2024 holiday sales forecast, consumer spending expectations and trends this winter holiday season.

Consumer shopping on their computer.
 
 
Historical holiday sales

Winter holiday spending is expected to grow between 2.5% and 3.5% over 2023. That equates to between $979.5 billion and $989 billion in total holiday spending in November and December, compared with $955.6 billion during the same timeframe last year.  

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Standing microphone decorated for the holidays

Additional media resources

NRF holiday forecast press call
The NRF holiday forecast press call took place on Oct. 15, 2024. NRF forecasts winter holiday spending will grow between 2.5% and 3.5% over 2023.

Listen to the press call

Video Q&A 
NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen discusses NRF’s 2024 holiday forecast.

View and download video

Video Q&A 
NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen discusses expected consumer spending for the 2024 winter holidays.

View and download video

Holiday resources

Winter Holiday FAQs
 
A blue door with a holiday wreath hanging
Answers to frequently-asked questions about the holiday season.
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Retail Holiday and Seasonal Trends
 
Three women laughing and walking with shopping bags
Consumer spending data for retail holidays throughout the year.
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How Butterball builds Thanksgiving traditions with customers
 
A family enjoying Thanksgiving with a turkey.
Retail Gets Real episode 369: EVP of Sales and Marketing Al Jansen on archiving customer's holiday stories.
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