Generative AI acted as a shopping assistant, with discounts and BNPL options helping drive record spending.

Smartphone purchases accounted for about 56% of online transactions, up from last year, underscoring mobile shopping dominance.

Retailers leveraged AI and autonomous agents to manage the holiday rush, with a notable surge in tasks like returns and shipping updates improving efficiency.

Industry leaders view AI shopping as a tipping point, nearing a broader adoption phase after initial experimentation.

Americans spent a record $257.8 billion online during the 2025 holiday season, driven by continued growth in e‑commerce and higher engagement.

Cyber Monday led the season with $14.25 billion in online sales, a 7% rise, while Cyber Week totaled $44.2 billion, up 8%; Black Friday and Thanksgiving Day also posted strong gains.

Shoppers chased deeper discounts—sometimes 30% off—and used buy-now-pay-later options, with AI-driven tools and social media influencing product discovery and deal finding.

AI is expected to further transform sales and customer experience, with three-quarters of shoppers open to using AI for returns and exchanges.

Consumers remained price-conscious due to inflation, tariffs, and layoffs, but were willing to spend when discounts and perceived value met expectations.

AI chatbots and smartphones aided research and decision-making, boosting conversions on higher-ticket purchases.

There is a shift toward technology-enabled shopping and flexible financing as a hedge against price volatility.

Deep discounts enabled shoppers to trade up to higher-ticket items during the season.