Preparing for a Compressed Holiday Shopping Season

This year’s holiday shopping season is expected to be particularly challenging for retailers due to the late timing of Thanksgiving, which falls on November 28th, and the potential distraction of election-related marketing. This compressed schedule implies that traditional sales events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday will occur closer to Christmas, resulting in a shorter shopping window for consumers. As a result, many customers indicate a willingness to spend less this year, reflecting a cautious approach toward holiday spending amidst uncertain economic conditions. Retail research forecasts e-commerce growth in the high single digits and overall retail growth at notably low single digits, signaling subdued consumer confidence heading into the season.