Large numbers of Americans are expected to return to stores and malls over Thanksgiving and the following days, despite higher prices, product shortages and an early surge in online spending before the formal start of the holiday season.
US consumers have already spent $72.2bn online since the start of November, Adobe Analytics reported on Wednesday. That is almost 20 per cent above the same period of 2020 and more than one-third of the total $207bn in online spending that Adobe expects over November and December.
Sharply diverging earnings announcements from leading chains have set up the period between Thanksgiving on Thursday and Cyber Monday, the traditional five-day peak of the US retail calendar, as a decisive test of the industry’s health.