In the #News #Economy #Politics - Black Friday Was A Major Success, Says The Media That Never Lies

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Black Friday Was A Major Success, Says The Media That Never Lies

U.S. online spending hit a record $11.8 billion on Black Friday, driven largely by AI-powered shopping tools that helped consumers compare prices and navigate rising costs tied to inflation and tariffs. With budgets tight, confidence low, and unemployment up, shoppers increasingly relied on chatbots and retail AI assistants, pushing AI-driven traffic to retail sites up 805% from last year. E-commerce sales grew far faster than in-store purchases, and popular items included toys, gaming consoles, and electronics.

Globally, AI tools influenced $14.2 billion in Black Friday sales, including $3 billion in the U.S., though higher prices and flat discounts meant shoppers bought fewer items per order. Rising average selling prices were driven by tariffs and stronger spending from higher-income consumers. Despite muted in-store turnout, the strong online performance sets up a record Cyber Monday, projected to reach $14.2 billion in sales.

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This report places Insights into the penalty box, and lays to rest any concerns that the economy is in trouble. Please read no further, nothing to see here!

Black Friday “record sales” sound impressive, but the numbers, as usual, don’t tell the whole story. Much of the 9% jump in online spending comes from higher prices, not shoppers buying more. Data from Salesforce shows that consumers spent more money but walked away with fewer items, meaning inflation, not booming demand, is driving those records. President Trump needs to post something that will fix this, immediately.

How people are paying adds another wrinkle to the story. A rising share of holiday purchases are being financed through credit cards, and buy now, pay later mechanisms. Could it be that households aren’t has flush with cash as advertised? Household, stretching to maintain holiday habits, will also experience higher debt balances, more delinquencies, and less financial flexibility in 2026. But, hey, everything is fine.

The computer has also shown us that the meaning “Black Friday” has changed. Black Friday, which used to be accompanied by frenzied buyers cross-checking each other as doors opened in the early hours of the morning, has now become a month-long promotion cycle. Retailers spread out deals to nudge cautious shoppers, meaning some of the volume being celebrated is simply pulled-forward holiday spending, not a buying stampede record.

Put together, the AI-driven miracle spending loses most of its shine. The record sales reflect a blend of inflated prices, borrowed money stretched over longer repayment periods, and monthly discounting to encourage more spending from a society desperate for the next stimulus package. Sure, look more like a consumer trying to keep pace, not one powering ahead.

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