Adobe Digital Insights reported a strong start to the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday shopping season, with sales reaching about $6.1 billion.
Sales increased by 8.8% compared to last year, a significant jump compared to 2023, which recorded growth of only 5.5% during the same period.
Games were the most popular category among shoppers, accounting for 27.2% of total sales, while electronics came in second at 26.5% and are expected to be the most popular this week, as people look for TV and computer upgrades.
Mobile shopping has seen an unprecedented rise, accounting for 60% of online sales, with online sales reaching $3.6 billion, up 10.5% year-over-year.
Vivek Pandya, principal analyst at Adobe Digital Insights, explained that deep discounts helped boost sales in categories such as electronics and apparel, as consumers shifted towards more expensive products compared to previous shopping seasons.
Electrical appliances, sporting goods, personal care products and toys saw increased demand.
Buy now, pay later plans have seen significant growth this year, with $430 million spent online using this method, and Adobe expects these plans to set new records during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as consumers continue to look for flexible ways to manage their budgets.
Adobe expects Black Friday sales to reach $10.8 billion, with electronics continuing to top the list of purchases. Meanwhile, the National Retail Federation said that about 183.4 million people are expected to shop between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, boosting expectations for an exceptional shopping season this year.