JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — You may have heard the phrase "Black Friday isn't what it used to be," and whether you think that's good or bad, Black Friday is still the most popular day to go shopping and expected to set a record this year, according to the National Retail Federation.
Many Black Friday sales now start earlier and more people now shop online for Black Friday than they do for Cyber Monday, according to the NRF.
Online on X, some consumers claim Black Friday isn’t what it used to be and that the sales aren’t either. But more than 183 million people are planning to empty their wallets Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, the NRF estimates, more than one million more people than last year.
“Gifting is something consumers do like to do in person," Katherine Cullen with the NRF told ABC News. "They like to see items before buying them. And then, of course, there are moments like Black Friday, which is often an in-person event or tradition for many people.”
In some ways the shopping sprees have stayed the same. The NRF finds Legos and Barbie are the hottest toys this holiday season, both toys that came out more than half a century ago.
What’s getting people to shop has changed. Adobe finds online influencers are driving shoppers 10 times more than social media overall.
Shoppers who are still unsure of where to head for deals are encouraged to use price comparison websites.