Black Friday spending in the U.S. highlighted a shift towards online shopping, with e-commerce sales rising by 14.6%, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse, while brick-and-mortar store sales saw a minimal 0.7% increase year-over-year. Facteus reported a sharper contrast, with in-store sales dropping 5.4% and online sales growing by 11.1%. Adjusted for inflation, these figures translate to 8.5% online growth and an 8% decline for physical stores. Overall spending on Black Friday rose by 3.4% compared to the previous year, according to Mastercard, though this figure does not account for inflation. Salesforce, which tracks spending across different categories, reported $17.5bn in U.S. online sales on Black Friday, a 7% year-over-year rise, with significant purchases in home appliances and furniture. The shift to online shopping reflects growing consumer preference for convenience and digital deals, reducing foot traffic in physical stores. From November 1st to December 24th, Mastercard projects a 3.2% year-over-year increase in combined in-store and online spending, indicating cautious consumer behaviour amid economic concerns.
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