AuctionsJan 31, 2025
Elizabeth Taylor’s Diamond Bracelet Outshines Estimate at U.K. AuctionThe auction also featured the sale of a Cartier necklace made when Egyptomania was sweeping Great Britain.
SurveysNov 28, 2018
Fewer Consumers Shopped Over Thanksgiving Weekend, NRF Says
More than 165 million Americans were spending money in stores or online, down from the 174 million in 2017.
Washington—More than 165 million Americans shopped in stores or online during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, according to the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
Prosper Insights performed a survey on behalf of the NRF, asking 3,058 consumers about Thanksgiving weekend and Cyber Monday shopping plans on Nov. 24 and 25.
While the final shopper turnout figure is more than the 164 million predicted in the NRF pre-holiday survey, it is a 5 percent decrease when compared with last year.
The NRF speculated that with more days to shop before Christmas this year, consumers were not feeling the need to spend money over Thanksgiving weekend and are taking their time.
Additionally, according to insights released by ShopperTrak, visits to brick-and-mortar retail stores and shopping centers were down 1 percent in the combined two-day period of Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday when compared with last year. On Black Friday specifically, foot traffic was down 1.7 percent.
ShopperTrak said this slight traffic variance is consistent with results over the past few years.
When it came to how much shoppers were spending, the NRF’s survey shows that the average shopper spent $313.29 on gifts and other holiday items over the five-day span from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday, 69 percent of which went specifically to gifts.
The biggest spenders were older millennials (those in their early 30s) and Generation Xers who are 35 to 44 at $413.05.
RELATED CONTENT: Millennials Expected to Spend the Most This Holiday Season
Additionally, a new trend popped up among younger consumers.
Members of the Gen Z demographic and younger millennials spent an average of $149 on gifts for themselves—more than any other generation.
Consumers also increasingly were shopping omnichannel, with more than 89 million people indicating they shopped both online and in stores, a nearly 40 percent increase from last year. What’s more, the “multichannel shopper,” as the NRF identified them, outspent the single-channel shopper by an average of $93.
Top purchases over the weekend included apparel (57 percent), toys (34 percent), books and video games (29 percent), electronics (26 percent) and gift cards (20 percent).
Not surprisingly, the most popular day to shop online was Cyber Monday, as indicated by 67.4 million shoppers, followed by Black Friday with 65.2 million shoppers.
The most popular day for in-store shopping was Black Friday with more than 67 million shoppers, followed by Small Business Saturday with 47.4 million shoppers.
Top shopping destinations during the
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
weekend included department stores (42 percent), online retailers (38 percent), apparel stores (30 percent), grocery stores (30 percent), discount stores (29 percent) and electronics stores (27 percent).
As mentioned before, there is less of a rush this shopping season with more days allowing for chances before Christmas.
On average, consumers have more than half (56 percent) of their holiday shopping remaining, according to the NRF survey. A vast majority of consumers (92 percent) said they think the strong deals seen over Thanksgiving weekend will continue or improve throughout the rest of the season.
The NRF did not offer any final sales numbers for the weekend, but it’s been reported that a record $6.22 billion was spent online on Black Friday while $3.7 billion was spent online Thanksgiving Day.
The NRF forecasts that holiday spending will increase between 4.3 and 4.8 percent over last year.
As mentioned before, there is less of a rush this shopping season with more days allowing for chances before Christmas.
On average, consumers have more than half (56 percent) of their holiday shopping remaining, according to the NRF survey. A vast majority of consumers (92 percent) said they think the strong deals seen over Thanksgiving weekend will continue or improve throughout the rest of the season.
The NRF did not offer any final sales numbers for the weekend, but it’s been reported that a record $6.22 billion was spent online on Black Friday while $3.7 billion was spent online Thanksgiving Day.
The NRF forecasts that holiday spending will increase between 4.3 and 4.8 percent over last year.
More on Surveys
The Latest
CollectionsJan 31, 2025
Piece of the Week: Lalaounis’ Good Luck Charm for 2025The “Blossom Rosette” blooms with love, beauty, and hope for the year ahead.
IndependentsJan 31, 2025
Harvey Rovinsky, Longtime Owner of Bernie Robbins Jewelers, Dies at 77Rovinsky is remembered as a great mentor who made the employees of his stores feel like family.
Brought to you by
3 New Year’s Resolutions for Jewelry Lovers The new year feels like a clean slate, inspiring reflection, hope, and the motivation to become better versions of ourselves.
Events & AwardsJan 31, 2025
Facets of Fire Has a Diamond Challenge for RetailersFor every jeweler who tries their luck, the company will make a donation to Jewelers for Children.
Weekly QuizJan 30, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsJan 30, 2025
WJA Chapter Leaders Resign as Fallout From DEI Remarks SnowballsThe boards of at least five chapters have resigned in response to controversial statements the WJA national board president made last month.
Policies & IssuesJan 30, 2025
RJC Executive Director Melanie Grant Is Stepping Down An experienced jewelry writer and curator, Grant led the organization for two years.
Brought to you by
A Diamond Is Forever Celebrates "Forever Present" Holiday CampaignA Diamond is Forever hosted a holiday celebration in honor of their new marketing campaign, ‘Forever Present.’
CollectionsJan 30, 2025
Pharrell Williams Brings Tahitian Pearls to His New Tiffany & Co. CollectionFive new designs were added, all donning Tahitian cultured pearls and spear-like trident motifs, along with the new “Titan” setting.
Events & AwardsJan 30, 2025
Registration Open for Converge 2025The inaugural event is being co-hosted by the American Gem Society and the Gemological Institute of America.
MajorsJan 30, 2025
24 Karat Club of New York Elects 5 New MembersJewelers of America’s Annie Doresca and AGTA CEO John W. Ford Sr. are among the new members.
CollectionsJan 29, 2025
Boucheron’s High Jewelry Takes the Form of ‘Untamed Nature’The jeweler’s latest high jewelry collection looks into the Boucheron archives to create a “living encyclopedia of high jewelry.”
FinancialsJan 29, 2025
LVMH Watch, Jewelry Sales End the Year DownWatch and jewelry sales slipped 3 percent in 2024, though the luxury conglomerate did see business pick up in the fourth quarter.
MajorsJan 29, 2025
Chanel Names New General Manager of Watches, Fine Jewelry for USOlivier Kessler-Gay will take over the role on March 3.
Events & AwardsJan 29, 2025
Chris Ploof To Teach Mokume Gane at AJSThe jewelry designer and master metalsmith will present on the ancient Japanese metalworking technique at the Atlanta Jewelry Show in March.
SourcingJan 28, 2025
WFDB Joins Efforts to Promote Natural Diamonds With New CampaignThe “Moments” social media campaign emphasizes the emotional ties between natural diamonds and life’s special milestones.
CollectionsJan 28, 2025
Bliss Lau Celebrates the Intricate Mosaic of Identity in New CollectionThe versatile “As We Are” collection features 14 pieces with interlocking designs allowing for 27 different looks worn around the body.
SourcingJan 28, 2025
Botswana’s First Olympic Gold Medalist Is Now a De Beers Ambassador Letsile Tebogo will help to promote natural diamonds and the good they have done for his country.
Events & AwardsJan 28, 2025
NouvelleBox Show Returns to New York CityThe showcase, in its second year, will feature more than 20 international brands at its curated event from Feb. 2-4.
Recorded WebinarsJan 28, 2025
Watch: Fine Jewelry Market Predictions for 2025 “My Next Question” guests Sherry Smith and Edahn Golan share their 2025 forecasts, from sales and marketing to what retailers should stock.
Events & AwardsJan 28, 2025
Here Is the 2025 AGTA GemFair Tucson Educational LineupThe seminar series covers topics from market trends and colored stone terminology to working with museums and growing an Instagram profile.
MajorsJan 27, 2025
Le Vian Corp. Chairman Larry LeVian, a Man of Faith and Family, Dies at 73 LeVian is remembered for his leadership in the jewelry industry and for being a selfless and compassionate person.
CrimeJan 27, 2025
New Jersey Jeweler Sentenced to 2 1/2 Years for Evading CustomsMonishkumar Kirankumar Doshi Shah pleaded guilty to evading customs on more than $13.5 million of jewelry imported into the U.S.
SourcingJan 27, 2025
Dev Shetty To Head New Auction House for Rare Colored GemsJemora Gemhouse’s inaugural auction, slated for March, will take place in Dubai and feature polished sapphires.
CollectionsJan 27, 2025
Rachel Quinn Embodies Feelings of Falling in Love in New CollectionQuinn partnered with Gemfields to create “Crazy Love,” which features Zambian emeralds and Mozambican rubies across 10 pieces.
MajorsJan 27, 2025
Arch Crown’s 2025 ‘Tag & Label’ Catalog Is Out Now The catalog is 48 pages and features more than 100 styles.
CollectionsJan 24, 2025
Piece of the Week: Ashley Zhang Jewelry’s Lunar New Year NecklaceThe one-of-a-kind necklace was designed in celebration of the Chinese New Year, as 2025 is the Year of the Snake.
