Cyber Monday Sales Surge Despite Transaction Decline

Online sales surged during the 'Cyber Five' shopping period, with U.S. consumers spending a record $41.1 billion from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday, reflecting an 8.2% increase from the previous year. Cyber Monday alone accounted for $13.3 billion in sales, marking it as the largest online shopping day of the year. Notably, toy sales skyrocketed by 680% compared to an average day in October, while the use of artificial intelligence chatbots for retail traffic rose dramatically by 1,950%. Conversely, Black Friday saw a decline in transactions in the Netherlands, with online payments dropping by 18.4% and overall brick-and-mortar sales also decreasing. Despite this, the week leading up to Black Friday experienced a 27% increase in transactions, suggesting consumers are shifting their purchasing patterns. Demographic studies reveal that Cyber Monday shoppers are predominantly women aged 35-54, and suburban residents are the most likely to engage in online shopping.