Intro:
Retailers are preparing for a slower holiday season this year, with shoppers focusing on essentials and seeking bigger discounts.
Details:
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Salesforce forecasts only 2.1% growth in online U.S. holiday sales for November–December 2025, compared with nearly 4% in 2024.
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AI-powered shopping tools like product recommendation engines and chatbots are projected to influence $51 billion in holiday purchases (≈18% of total sales).
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Retail giants such as Amazon, Walmart, and Target are expected to roll out early Black Friday deals to attract cautious buyers.
Impact:
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Slower growth signals tighter consumer spending amid inflation and economic uncertainty.
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Retailers may risk overstock and margin losses if discounts aren’t carefully managed.
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Logistics and shipping industries could still benefit from heavy demand in essentials.