This data is absolutely useless without the corollary sales data of the rest of the year. If YOY sales are down overall but only up on Black Friday it means people hold their wallets closed until...
This data is absolutely useless without the corollary sales data of the rest of the year. If YOY sales are down overall but only up on Black Friday it means people hold their wallets closed until they can guarantee steep discounts.
This has no indication whatsoever on the robustness of the economy. At most it shows that A. People are still easily swayed by price cuts, perceived or otherwise and B. People wait to buy big ticket items until price cuts happen.
Yeah the article kind of reads like whitewashing consumer mistrust and poor confidence in the economy. Like those articles trying to sell the idea that Thanksgiving dinner cost the same this year...
Yeah the article kind of reads like whitewashing consumer mistrust and poor confidence in the economy. Like those articles trying to sell the idea that Thanksgiving dinner cost the same this year as last year.
This article has a lot of "yes, it looks bad, but look at this instead" and just seems like misdirection.
Well, when you're broke a sale can be a big deal so I can see this being a thing. As an aside, I've spoken to one of our friends who is a local artist and she said that no one is buying anything...
Well, when you're broke a sale can be a big deal so I can see this being a thing.
As an aside, I've spoken to one of our friends who is a local artist and she said that no one is buying anything from them this season. Same with all the other local artists/makers. Seems to be a good indicator of how pinched normal folks are feeling right now. If you can, try to support and buy from the folks who make, paint, craft things where you are.
My total Black Friday spending was $12 on a pizza. There is nothing I wanted less than to make my way through crowds of people or deal with online retailers. Thank you, everyone else, for spending...
My total Black Friday spending was $12 on a pizza. There is nothing I wanted less than to make my way through crowds of people or deal with online retailers.
Thank you, everyone else, for spending on my behalf!
The Indivisible group is promoting Black Friday through Cyber Monday boycotts of Amazon, Home Depot, and Target, so those sales are off the table for me. I have an actual need for clothes that...
The Indivisible group is promoting Black Friday through Cyber Monday boycotts of Amazon, Home Depot, and Target, so those sales are off the table for me.
I have an actual need for clothes that fit, because reasons. It's been a while since I've last shopped retail, and it was pretty shocking to see that clothes at 40 - 50% off still cost more than full prices in 2021. Presumably inflation + tariffs. Overall the offerings are worse quality, from countries with even more questionable labor supply chains than China, and in uglier styles (looking at you, REI, Uniqlo, Zara, Banana Republic, Madewell, Everlane, Quince...). Back to the thrift and resale stores I went.
I know a number of people who are just using the sales to stock up on routine staple consumables, replacements for dead/obsolete electronics, and kid's gifts, not luxury or genuinely frivolous purchases. They're shuffling their regular consumption around for discounts, and the drop-off will be steep when normal pricing resumes.
I had to go by my local Walmart Friday morning to pick up some pet food, and it was… weirdly quiet. It was actually less busy than the afternoon/evening on days I normally go. Not sure if it was...
I had to go by my local Walmart Friday morning to pick up some pet food, and it was… weirdly quiet. It was actually less busy than the afternoon/evening on days I normally go. Not sure if it was location, more people buying online, or sales being spread out over a longer period of time, but it was strange seeing as it wasn’t long ago I remember the massive lines and retailers dabbling in “Black Thursday.”
Archive https://archive.ph/2025.11.29-223322/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/business/economy/black-friday-spending.html It’s nice to see resilience in the economy despite all the chaos that’s...
The article does note that this may not carry through the whole holiday season: It will be interesting if we ever get any data about who is doing the spending, especially in the wake of the recent...
The article does note that this may not carry through the whole holiday season:
Despite the strong Black Friday sales this year, analysts say that may not reflect how retailers will perform overall this holiday season.
...highest since 1989! The country should be worried. The very top earners are often the most mobile and able to take their money with them, or simply not buy from the US. If they feel like it,...
...highest since 1989!
the spending happening by the majority of Americans is not enough to bankroll the economy. Zandi said spending has increased among the bottom 80% of earners, but not faster than the rate of inflation. Which means in some ways they’re actually pulling back.
The country should be worried. The very top earners are often the most mobile and able to take their money with them, or simply not buy from the US. If they feel like it, they can spend money to renovate their overseas estates instead of the US one on a whim, or import all their goods with better consumer protections, or send their kids overseas etc. If the locked in people aren't spending, life overall deteriorates enough that the very rich will leave with the rest of the money.
I spent $160 on a gaming computer for my nephew. Of course, this was in a parking lot of a Target, arranged via Craigslist. Though actually I did get a few things off Amazon, including a new...
I spent $160 on a gaming computer for my nephew. Of course, this was in a parking lot of a Target, arranged via Craigslist.
Though actually I did get a few things off Amazon, including a new modular PSU, 140mm fan and HDMI cable for my HTPC, as well as a head lamp for working on my cars and other utility. Think that was all about $150.
I feel like everyone is have two weeks of Black Friday sales now, and I'm a bit desensitized to it because I've already been looking at sales for a while. We did buy personalized cards using...
I feel like everyone is have two weeks of Black Friday sales now, and I'm a bit desensitized to it because I've already been looking at sales for a while. We did buy personalized cards using deals, but those were for our elopement announcements. We'd be buying them once, Black Friday or not. I tried to buy stuff I wanted before Black Friday so I wouldn't be tempted to buy more than I planned.
The only thing I spent money on for Black Friday was my usual Friday grocery run. Saturday, the only unusual thing I did was spend money at a local toy store, as they announced they're closing...
The only thing I spent money on for Black Friday was my usual Friday grocery run.
Saturday, the only unusual thing I did was spend money at a local toy store, as they announced they're closing doors at the end of the year, announcement made on Black Friday.
I bought a VST (Drumazon 2), because it was marked down by over 60%. If anyone wants Ableton, the Arturia V Collection or Native Instruments Komplete, now is the time, since they're always steeply...
I bought a VST (Drumazon 2), because it was marked down by over 60%. If anyone wants Ableton, the Arturia V Collection or Native Instruments Komplete, now is the time, since they're always steeply discounted this time of year.
And I went to Kohls, because Wrangler sucks and they and Lee are the only brands that make comfortable jeans. Since they were effectively buy one get one versus the usual price I'd pay, it was an easy savings. I also got a zippered Mr Rogers sweater, because we're in that period where it's colder than a hoodie is ideal but 40F is too hot for a winter jacket.
I also picked up a backup pair of the Skechers I wear, and new ones for my girlfriend, because they were again about half what I'd usually pay. It's better to be one-pair-ahead and save money.
We replaced PS5 controllers with drift, because they're $50 instead of $80. But other than that, no electronics purchases. Nothing spectacular or necessary, and I wouldn't expect there to be with the tariff situation.
Wasn't there supposed to be some sort of boycott of the big sellers during this weekend, through and including Monday? I haven't bought anything aside from gas and groceries. I got some canned...
Wasn't there supposed to be some sort of boycott of the big sellers during this weekend, through and including Monday?
I haven't bought anything aside from gas and groceries. I got some canned pumpkin and canned cranberry sauce on sale.
Yeah I've bought groceries, fast food and medical supplies but nothing for Christmas since a cat tree off Tiktok shop a month ago. There's no national will for it though. I did laugh at the Target...
Yeah I've bought groceries, fast food and medical supplies but nothing for Christmas since a cat tree off Tiktok shop a month ago.
There's no national will for it though. I did laugh at the Target "swag bags" for Black Friday shoppers having like maybe ten bucks worth of stuff in them. Serves them right
Long before online shopping became a thing I saw a news video of Black Friday shoppers shortly after they were let into a big box store. What I saw was so undignified I decided to never to...
Long before online shopping became a thing I saw a news video of Black Friday shoppers shortly after they were let into a big box store. What I saw was so undignified I decided to never to participate in Black Friday.
I remember seeing those videos as well where they would interview the people waiting in line and never wanted to participate since I could hang out and enjoy Thanksgiving instead of camping out...
I remember seeing those videos as well where they would interview the people waiting in line and never wanted to participate since I could hang out and enjoy Thanksgiving instead of camping out for a TV or some toys.
That was until I did one single midnight Black Friday camp out with some friends in high school in order to be one of the first ~250 in to Fry's Electronics so we could get a motherboard and CPU combo for ~$150 (an MSI motherboard whose model I can't remember and an Intel i5 3570k). Ended up being worth the wait since I didn't have much money to rebuild my computer and I had started getting my friend group into PC gaming. Since I saved ~$150-200 on that deal, I could afford to get a mid-tier graphics card (Nvidia GTX 550 TI) and some extra RAM (4 GB). It ended up being an awesome decision since that combo of motherboard + CPU lasted me 11 years. The only reason I stopped using it was because I moved abroad and gave my dad my old computer for parts.
Going made me reconsider Black Friday sales, since they could be worth it if it was something you wanted enough, but there was never a sale that was that good of a deal again that made me willing to wait outside in the cold. That, and having a group of friends to do it with and hang out with made the wait not feel so long.
(Prices are estimates, since this was ~15 years ago)
Those would be good times, out all night with friends. Saving money instead of spending it getting drunk no less! Undignified is perfect for teen friends. Or adult friends whose friendship is like...
Those would be good times, out all night with friends. Saving money instead of spending it getting drunk no less! Undignified is perfect for teen friends. Or adult friends whose friendship is like that of teens.
Yeah I guess. If I "shop" on Black Friday I buy the same stuff I buy the rest of the year - which isn't typically plastic from China - as the past decade or so has not really been that old...
Yeah I guess. If I "shop" on Black Friday I buy the same stuff I buy the rest of the year - which isn't typically plastic from China - as the past decade or so has not really been that old stampede of people experience and I was mostly in grad school or broke or a kid for when it was.
I wish I could boycott them the rest of the year as well :) But there are stuff I need, and if I dont have to line up and I was giving them money anyways, I might as well pay less. Caveat on if...
I wish I could boycott them the rest of the year as well :)
But there are stuff I need, and if I dont have to line up and I was giving them money anyways, I might as well pay less.
Caveat on if they get my money anyway. I do so love being able to spend more on quality products from locally shops where they exist. My recurve bows, binoculars, fishing gear and a few other things have been local not black Friday and definitely better stuff.
My computer monitor started dying exactly on Black Friday which was convenient because there was good sales on, but a little suspicious. I'm going to attempt to repair it, but I still ordered a...
My computer monitor started dying exactly on Black Friday which was convenient because there was good sales on, but a little suspicious. I'm going to attempt to repair it, but I still ordered a new one because I can't afford to be without one. If the capacitor repair goes well then I'll have a good backup/2nd monitor, and I'm excited for my upgrade.
I pre-ordered something, but my account won't be charged until the item release date, so technically I didn't buy anything, but I did make a return request for an item I bought on Amazon that...
I pre-ordered something, but my account won't be charged until the item release date, so technically I didn't buy anything, but I did make a return request for an item I bought on Amazon that wasn't the dimensions advertised, so technically, I spent negative money?
Mr. Tired and family bought Ninetendo e-shop gift cards through Costco because they're finally on sale again.
My travel water bottle broke yesterday, so now I need to decide if I should go back to one of my old ones which were hard on me, accessibility-wise and just deal with the hand pain from twisting a cap when I'm thirsty, or cleaning the camelbak bite valve while traveling, which I usually do with a vinegar soak and dishwasher back home daily when using those on a trip. I wish Camelbak made a flip top cap for their Eddie bottles - if anyone knows of one, lmk.
I don’t have a lot of money but I bought my annual pair of Levi’s.. now over $130 CAD per pair without discount. But I’m finding you can’t get quality shit anymore, clothing falls apart fast.
I don’t have a lot of money but I bought my annual pair of Levi’s.. now over $130 CAD per pair without discount. But I’m finding you can’t get quality shit anymore, clothing falls apart fast.
I've been disappointed with women's clothing quality at Costco in the last few years - more poorly made synthetic fabrics, fewer and uglier styles and colors. I used to have more success with the...
I've been disappointed with women's clothing quality at Costco in the last few years - more poorly made synthetic fabrics, fewer and uglier styles and colors. I used to have more success with the men's basics, which are generally made of tougher fabrics with better quality fasteners and sewing. But the cuts and colors aren't what I need anymore.
Not the help you were likely looking for, but at those prices you might consider DUER jeans - Canadian brand and they’re superior in quality to the Levi’s I used to get. For example -...
Not the help you were likely looking for, but at those prices you might consider DUER jeans - Canadian brand and they’re superior in quality to the Levi’s I used to get.
For high quality jeans, Japan has a lot of manufacturers that still weave the fabric in Japan with traditional (well, not that traditional - jeans have only been around for so long) looms that...
For high quality jeans, Japan has a lot of manufacturers that still weave the fabric in Japan with traditional (well, not that traditional - jeans have only been around for so long) looms that really only exist in Japan these days.
For more budget brands, you can get a very nice pair of jeans from japanbluejeans for around $200 USD, so 300ish CAD. I think it’s a very fair price for the quality. For more boutique options, there’s kapital, which makes more experimental designs. They’re more like 500-800 USD, though. I have a pair and it’s a neat statement piece.
I nearly had a heart attack from hearing $200 for jeans. I know that's because I'm used to unethical fast fashion rates though. Will keep that in mind.... Are there second hand Japanese jeans or...
I nearly had a heart attack from hearing $200 for jeans. I know that's because I'm used to unethical fast fashion rates though. Will keep that in mind.... Are there second hand Japanese jeans or clothing or accessories stores? I'm thinking $50 CAD or under per piece range .
I was again shocked to find that even the premium lines of Levi's are now 20% polyester. I don't mind a small amount of elastane (like 2%) for comfort, but any synthetic content increases...
I was again shocked to find that even the premium lines of Levi's are now 20% polyester. I don't mind a small amount of elastane (like 2%) for comfort, but any synthetic content increases pollution, decreases warm weather wearability, and reduces durability.
Uniqlo sells more affordable high-cotton denim, though I can't vouch for the labor standards and sustainability of manufacture. It wears like Levi's used to.
This data is absolutely useless without the corollary sales data of the rest of the year. If YOY sales are down overall but only up on Black Friday it means people hold their wallets closed until they can guarantee steep discounts.
This has no indication whatsoever on the robustness of the economy. At most it shows that A. People are still easily swayed by price cuts, perceived or otherwise and B. People wait to buy big ticket items until price cuts happen.
Yeah the article kind of reads like whitewashing consumer mistrust and poor confidence in the economy. Like those articles trying to sell the idea that Thanksgiving dinner cost the same this year as last year.
This article has a lot of "yes, it looks bad, but look at this instead" and just seems like misdirection.
Well, when you're broke a sale can be a big deal so I can see this being a thing.
As an aside, I've spoken to one of our friends who is a local artist and she said that no one is buying anything from them this season. Same with all the other local artists/makers. Seems to be a good indicator of how pinched normal folks are feeling right now. If you can, try to support and buy from the folks who make, paint, craft things where you are.
I think this is reality and the article is just a whitewashing sales pitch.
My total Black Friday spending was $12 on a pizza. There is nothing I wanted less than to make my way through crowds of people or deal with online retailers.
Thank you, everyone else, for spending on my behalf!
The Indivisible group is promoting Black Friday through Cyber Monday boycotts of Amazon, Home Depot, and Target, so those sales are off the table for me.
I have an actual need for clothes that fit, because reasons. It's been a while since I've last shopped retail, and it was pretty shocking to see that clothes at 40 - 50% off still cost more than full prices in 2021. Presumably inflation + tariffs. Overall the offerings are worse quality, from countries with even more questionable labor supply chains than China, and in uglier styles (looking at you, REI, Uniqlo, Zara, Banana Republic, Madewell, Everlane, Quince...). Back to the thrift and resale stores I went.
I know a number of people who are just using the sales to stock up on routine staple consumables, replacements for dead/obsolete electronics, and kid's gifts, not luxury or genuinely frivolous purchases. They're shuffling their regular consumption around for discounts, and the drop-off will be steep when normal pricing resumes.
I had to go by my local Walmart Friday morning to pick up some pet food, and it was… weirdly quiet. It was actually less busy than the afternoon/evening on days I normally go. Not sure if it was location, more people buying online, or sales being spread out over a longer period of time, but it was strange seeing as it wasn’t long ago I remember the massive lines and retailers dabbling in “Black Thursday.”
Archive https://archive.ph/2025.11.29-223322/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/business/economy/black-friday-spending.html
It’s nice to see resilience in the economy despite all the chaos that’s been occurring.
For a useless anecdote, I did end up spending 2k or so on headphones, a new TV, and a lens.
The article does note that this may not carry through the whole holiday season:
It will be interesting if we ever get any data about who is doing the spending, especially in the wake of the recent Moody's report that nearly half of U.S. retail spending comes from top 10% of earners.
...highest since 1989!
The country should be worried. The very top earners are often the most mobile and able to take their money with them, or simply not buy from the US. If they feel like it, they can spend money to renovate their overseas estates instead of the US one on a whim, or import all their goods with better consumer protections, or send their kids overseas etc. If the locked in people aren't spending, life overall deteriorates enough that the very rich will leave with the rest of the money.
I hope the voters are worried, and use that worry to vote more appropriately in the future.
Same, instead of "wow I want to be that 10% I better make sure I spend like them in advance and vote in their interest for every election!"
I spent $160 on a gaming computer for my nephew. Of course, this was in a parking lot of a Target, arranged via Craigslist.
Though actually I did get a few things off Amazon, including a new modular PSU, 140mm fan and HDMI cable for my HTPC, as well as a head lamp for working on my cars and other utility. Think that was all about $150.
I feel like everyone is have two weeks of Black Friday sales now, and I'm a bit desensitized to it because I've already been looking at sales for a while. We did buy personalized cards using deals, but those were for our elopement announcements. We'd be buying them once, Black Friday or not. I tried to buy stuff I wanted before Black Friday so I wouldn't be tempted to buy more than I planned.
The only thing I spent money on for Black Friday was my usual Friday grocery run.
Saturday, the only unusual thing I did was spend money at a local toy store, as they announced they're closing doors at the end of the year, announcement made on Black Friday.
I bought a VST (Drumazon 2), because it was marked down by over 60%. If anyone wants Ableton, the Arturia V Collection or Native Instruments Komplete, now is the time, since they're always steeply discounted this time of year.
And I went to Kohls, because Wrangler sucks and they and Lee are the only brands that make comfortable jeans. Since they were effectively buy one get one versus the usual price I'd pay, it was an easy savings. I also got a zippered Mr Rogers sweater, because we're in that period where it's colder than a hoodie is ideal but 40F is too hot for a winter jacket.
I also picked up a backup pair of the Skechers I wear, and new ones for my girlfriend, because they were again about half what I'd usually pay. It's better to be one-pair-ahead and save money.
We replaced PS5 controllers with drift, because they're $50 instead of $80. But other than that, no electronics purchases. Nothing spectacular or necessary, and I wouldn't expect there to be with the tariff situation.
Wasn't there supposed to be some sort of boycott of the big sellers during this weekend, through and including Monday?
I haven't bought anything aside from gas and groceries. I got some canned pumpkin and canned cranberry sauce on sale.
Yeah I've bought groceries, fast food and medical supplies but nothing for Christmas since a cat tree off Tiktok shop a month ago.
There's no national will for it though. I did laugh at the Target "swag bags" for Black Friday shoppers having like maybe ten bucks worth of stuff in them. Serves them right
Long before online shopping became a thing I saw a news video of Black Friday shoppers shortly after they were let into a big box store. What I saw was so undignified I decided to never to participate in Black Friday.
I have enough cheap plastic crap from China.
I remember seeing those videos as well where they would interview the people waiting in line and never wanted to participate since I could hang out and enjoy Thanksgiving instead of camping out for a TV or some toys.
That was until I did one single midnight Black Friday camp out with some friends in high school in order to be one of the first ~250 in to Fry's Electronics so we could get a motherboard and CPU combo for ~$150 (an MSI motherboard whose model I can't remember and an Intel i5 3570k). Ended up being worth the wait since I didn't have much money to rebuild my computer and I had started getting my friend group into PC gaming. Since I saved ~$150-200 on that deal, I could afford to get a mid-tier graphics card (Nvidia GTX 550 TI) and some extra RAM (4 GB). It ended up being an awesome decision since that combo of motherboard + CPU lasted me 11 years. The only reason I stopped using it was because I moved abroad and gave my dad my old computer for parts.
Going made me reconsider Black Friday sales, since they could be worth it if it was something you wanted enough, but there was never a sale that was that good of a deal again that made me willing to wait outside in the cold. That, and having a group of friends to do it with and hang out with made the wait not feel so long.
(Prices are estimates, since this was ~15 years ago)
Those would be good times, out all night with friends. Saving money instead of spending it getting drunk no less! Undignified is perfect for teen friends. Or adult friends whose friendship is like that of teens.
Yeah I guess. If I "shop" on Black Friday I buy the same stuff I buy the rest of the year - which isn't typically plastic from China - as the past decade or so has not really been that old stampede of people experience and I was mostly in grad school or broke or a kid for when it was.
The boycott is separate, regardless
I wish I could boycott them the rest of the year as well :)
But there are stuff I need, and if I dont have to line up and I was giving them money anyways, I might as well pay less.
Caveat on if they get my money anyway. I do so love being able to spend more on quality products from locally shops where they exist. My recurve bows, binoculars, fishing gear and a few other things have been local not black Friday and definitely better stuff.
...i bought a couple of things from independent irish + english merchants; i think that's okay...
Are you in the UK?
My computer monitor started dying exactly on Black Friday which was convenient because there was good sales on, but a little suspicious. I'm going to attempt to repair it, but I still ordered a new one because I can't afford to be without one. If the capacitor repair goes well then I'll have a good backup/2nd monitor, and I'm excited for my upgrade.
I pre-ordered something, but my account won't be charged until the item release date, so technically I didn't buy anything, but I did make a return request for an item I bought on Amazon that wasn't the dimensions advertised, so technically, I spent negative money?
Mr. Tired and family bought Ninetendo e-shop gift cards through Costco because they're finally on sale again.
My travel water bottle broke yesterday, so now I need to decide if I should go back to one of my old ones which were hard on me, accessibility-wise and just deal with the hand pain from twisting a cap when I'm thirsty, or cleaning the camelbak bite valve while traveling, which I usually do with a vinegar soak and dishwasher back home daily when using those on a trip. I wish Camelbak made a flip top cap for their Eddie bottles - if anyone knows of one, lmk.
I don’t have a lot of money but I bought my annual pair of Levi’s.. now over $130 CAD per pair without discount. But I’m finding you can’t get quality shit anymore, clothing falls apart fast.
Re: quality. Thrift stores :/ at least then, I can guarantee that something can survive a few washes. That, Costco, or the other extreme, Patagonia.
I've been disappointed with women's clothing quality at Costco in the last few years - more poorly made synthetic fabrics, fewer and uglier styles and colors. I used to have more success with the men's basics, which are generally made of tougher fabrics with better quality fasteners and sewing. But the cuts and colors aren't what I need anymore.
Disappointing to hear. I wonder if it's because Costco has kept them around $30 for many many years so it's only quality that's decreasing
Not the help you were likely looking for, but at those prices you might consider DUER jeans - Canadian brand and they’re superior in quality to the Levi’s I used to get.
For example - https://duer.ca/collections/mens/products/mens-performance-denim-plus-straight
For high quality jeans, Japan has a lot of manufacturers that still weave the fabric in Japan with traditional (well, not that traditional - jeans have only been around for so long) looms that really only exist in Japan these days.
For more budget brands, you can get a very nice pair of jeans from japanbluejeans for around $200 USD, so 300ish CAD. I think it’s a very fair price for the quality. For more boutique options, there’s kapital, which makes more experimental designs. They’re more like 500-800 USD, though. I have a pair and it’s a neat statement piece.
I nearly had a heart attack from hearing $200 for jeans. I know that's because I'm used to unethical fast fashion rates though. Will keep that in mind.... Are there second hand Japanese jeans or clothing or accessories stores? I'm thinking $50 CAD or under per piece range .
I was again shocked to find that even the premium lines of Levi's are now 20% polyester. I don't mind a small amount of elastane (like 2%) for comfort, but any synthetic content increases pollution, decreases warm weather wearability, and reduces durability.
Uniqlo sells more affordable high-cotton denim, though I can't vouch for the labor standards and sustainability of manufacture. It wears like Levi's used to.
Uniqlo's selvedge jeans are around $60 CAD IIRC and they're solid. Would recommend that versus paying $100 for Levi's.