This Week in Retail # 108

Hey Friends,

Happy Cyber Monday. As we shake off the tryptophan and scroll through what’s left of the weekend deals, today we’re diving into everything that shaped Black Friday and the retail world around it. From stronger-than-expected sales and a fresh wave of AI-driven shopping behaviors to big moves from Aldi, TikTok, and even Netflix itself, there’s a lot happening as we head into the heart of the holiday season.

Let’s get into it……

Black Friday got a solid boost this year, with Mastercard reporting stronger retail sales growth as shoppers pushed past all the economic uncertainty. Retail sales (excluding autos) were up 4.1%, a noticeable jump from last year’s 3.4% gain, and the momentum showed up both online and in stores — online spending surged 10.4%, while foot traffic and in-store sales also ticked up. Clothing and jewelry were big winners, and Adobe estimates online Black Friday spending hit $11.8 billion, about a billion more than last year. Even though consumer sentiment has felt shaky, retailers remain upbeat: Walmart just raised its outlook, and the NRF is predicting the first $1 trillion holiday season, all signals that U.S. shoppers are still powering the economy into the holidays.

Buy now, pay later continued its surge this Black Friday, with usage climbing 8.9% and fueling nearly $750 million in online purchases. It’s great for retailers in the moment, but it comes with a warning: many consumers are stretching themselves thin and may feel the credit hangover in 2026. Adobe found BNPL was overwhelmingly a mobile-first behavior, accounting for more than 80% of usage.