U.S. holiday retail sales reached $957.7 billion in a recent season, a 3.7% increase. This growth occurred despite over half of consumers reporting inflation forced them to increase their budgets.
Key Takeaways
- Average U.S. household Christmas spending $901 in 2023
- Online Christmas retail sales U.S. 2023: $184 billion, 19% of total
- NRF projects 2024 e-com holiday 20-21% of total U.S. sales
- In 2023, U.S. holiday retail sales reached $957.7 billion, marking a 3.7% increase from 2022
- Toys and games led U.S. Christmas sales at $25 billion in 2023
Christmas retail sales surged this season, driven by strong demand and continued consumer spending.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumer Spending Patterns26 stats
01
Average U.S. household Christmas spending $901in 2023
02
52% of U.S. consumers planned to spend same as 2022 on Christmas gifts in 2023
03
84% of shoppers bought Christmas gifts online in 2023, spending avg $512
04
Millennials averaged $1,050Christmas spending in U.S. 2023
05
Gen Z U.S. Christmas spend $850avg, influenced by social media, 2023
06
Boomers spent $650avg on Christmas retail in U.S. 2023
07
61% of U.S. parents spent over $200 per child on Christmas toys 2023
08
Impulse Christmas buys averaged 28% of total spend in UK 2023
09
45% of global consumers used buy-now-pay-later for Christmas 2023, avg $300
10
U.S. women planned $950Christmas spend vs men's $810 in 2023
11
37% increased Christmas budgets due to inflation in 2023 U.S.
12
Credit card usage for Christmas up 15% to 55% of payments 2023 U.S.
13
68% of shoppers started Christmas buying before November 2023 U.S.
14
Mobile payments for Christmas retail hit 40% of transactions 2023 global
15
29% of U.S. consumers shopped Christmas sales for self-gifts 2023, avg $150
16
UK families avg £400 per child Christmas spend 2023
17
51% cut non-essential Christmas spending due to economy 2023 U.S.
18
Gift cards accounted for 15% of Christmas spend, $28 billion U.S. 2023
19
Experiences over goods: 23% Christmas budget shift 2023 global
20
42% used loyalty programs to save on Christmas 2023 U.S.
21
Average Christmas grocery spend $250per U.S. household 2023
22
35% of Gen X spent more on decorations 2023 U.S., avg $120
23
International shoppers spent 12% more on U.S. Christmas retail 2023
24
47% prioritized deals in Christmas shopping 2023 UK
25
U.S. low-income households avg $450Christmas spend 2023
26
56% used apps for price comparison Christmas 2023 global
Interpretation
Consumer Spending Patterns Interpretation
Americans bravely faced inflation, with many starting their online shopping sprees by November, ultimately deciding the true Christmas spirit was worth about $901 and a 15% increase in credit card usage.
02 · Category
E-commerce vs Brick-and-Mortar25 stats
01
Online Christmas retail sales U.S. 2023: $184 billion, 19% of total
02
E-commerce grew 7.8% during U.S. holidays 2023 vs 2022
03
Mobile commerce 55% of online Christmas sales U.S. 2023, $101 billion
04
Amazon captured 38% of U.S. online holiday sales 2023
05
Walmart.com holiday sales up 22% to $14 billion 2023
06
Target.com e-com grew 11% Christmas period 2023
07
62% of U.S. shoppers bought online before stores 2023 holiday
08
Brick-and-mortar traffic up 1.2% U.S. holidays 2023 despite e-com rise
09
Curbside pickup 25% of omnichannel Christmas sales 2023 U.S.
10
Social commerce $22 billion U.S. holiday 2023 via Instagram/TikTok
11
UK online Christmas sales 38% of total £53 billion 2023
12
Global e-com holiday penetration 25% in 2023
13
Marketplace platforms 60% of online holiday sales 2023 U.S.
14
BOPIS (buy online pick up in store) 30% growth holiday 2023
15
Physical store sales still 81% U.S. holiday total 2023
16
DoorDash/Instacart holiday grocery delivery $5 billion 2023
17
Luxury brands e-com 18% vs 82% stores holiday 2023
18
Returns online 24% vs 8% in-store U.S. holiday 2023
19
Voice commerce emerging, 5% online holiday sales 2023 Alexa/Google
20
Pop-up stores boosted physical sales 15% holiday 2023 U.S.
21
China Tmall Double 11 influenced Christmas e-com $140 billion 2023
22
EU online holiday sales €120 billion 2023, 22% total
23
Live streaming sales $4 billion U.S. holiday TikTok 2023
24
Subscription boxes $2.5 billion holiday add-on 2023
25
AR try-on boosted e-com fashion 35% conversion holiday 2023
Interpretation
E-commerce vs Brick-and-Mortar Interpretation
While online sales soared, the holiday season revealed a retail landscape that is not simply digital versus physical but a complex, omnichannel ecosystem where our phones are now the main shopping carts, Amazon is the undisputed mall, and even with a resurgence of foot traffic, the modern shopper demands a seamless blend of convenience across clicks, curbside pickups, and in-store experiences.
03 · Category
Forecasts and Projections25 stats
01
NRF projects 2024 e-com holiday 20-21% of total U.S. sales
02
Deloitte forecasts UK Christmas sales up 1.5% to £142 billion 2024
03
Statista predicts global holiday e-com $6.8 trillion by 2027, CAGR 8%
04
U.S. consumer spending Christmas 2024 avg $902,up 1%, NRF
05
Toys sales projected $26.5 billion U.S. holiday 2024
06
Electronics holiday sales forecast $130 billion U.S. 2024
07
Apparel projected 2.5% growth to $87 billion U.S. 2024 holiday
08
Home goods sales up 3% to $72 billion forecast U.S. 2024
09
Luxury global holiday $130 billion projected 2024
10
BNPL usage to hit 50% U.S. holiday shoppers 2024
11
Mobile e-com 60% of online holiday sales 2024 U.S. proj
12
AI personalization to drive 15% sales lift holiday 2024
13
Grocery holiday sales $95 billion forecast U.S. 2024
14
Gen Z spending up 5% to $900 avg 2024 U.S. holiday
15
Sustainability influences 40% purchase decisions holiday 2024 proj
16
Super Saturday 2024 sales $39 billion U.S. expected
17
Black Friday online $10.8 billion projected 2024 U.S.
18
Cyber Monday record $13.5 billion e-com forecast 2024
19
Brick-and-mortar growth 1.5% projected 2024 U.S. holiday
20
Gift cards $30 billion U.S. holiday 2024 forecast
21
Travel experiences $50 billion holiday add-on 2024 proj
22
Health products up 6% to $37 billion U.S. 2024 holiday
23
Jewelry sales $9 billion projected U.S. holiday 2024
24
Sporting goods $13 billion global 2024 holiday proj
25
India Christmas retail INR 55,000 crore forecast 2024
Interpretation
Forecasts and Projections Interpretation
As Santa's sleigh goes digital, the 2024 holiday shopping season reveals a global consumer torn between the instant gratification of a 'Buy Now, Pay Later' mobile click and a conscience yearning for sustainable gifts, proving that even festive spending is a complex blend of tradition, technology, and modern values.
More related reading
04 · Category
Overall Sales and Revenue30 stats
01
In 2023, U.S. holiday retail sales reached $957.7 billion, marking a 3.7% increase from 2022
02
Global Christmas retail sales in 2022 exceeded $1.2 trillion, driven by festive spending across Europe and North America
03
UK Christmas retail sales hit £140 billion in 2023, up 2.1% from the previous year
04
U.S. Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2023 generated $12.4 billion in online sales alone during Christmas shopping kickoff
05
Australian Christmas retail turnover grew 1.6% to AUD 7.2 billion in December 2023
06
Canadian holiday retail sales surged 4.2% to CAD 85.3 billion in 2023
07
German Christmas market retail sales reached €153 billion in 2023, a 1.8% rise
08
French end-of-year retail sales climbed 2.3% to €110 billion in 2023
09
Japanese Christmas retail sales, though not traditional, hit ¥1.2 trillion in 2023, up 3%
10
Brazil's Christmas retail sales grew 5.1% to BRL 45 billion in 2023
11
NRF forecasted U.S. 2024 holiday sales at $979.5 billion to $989 billion, up 2.5-3.5%
12
European Union Christmas retail sales totaled €650 billion in 2023
13
China's festive retail (including Christmas influences) reached ¥9.8 trillion in Q4 2023
14
India's Christmas retail sales in major cities hit INR 50,000 crore in 2023, up 7%
15
South Africa's December 2023 retail sales grew 2.4% to ZAR 220 billion
16
U.S. holiday sales per capita averaged $2,097in 2023
17
Online holiday sales accounted for 19.2% of total U.S. Christmas retail in 2023 at $184 billion
18
Brick-and-mortar stores captured 80.8% of U.S. holiday sales in 2023, totaling $773.7 billion
19
Luxury Christmas retail sales globally hit $120 billion in 2023
20
Discount retailers saw 4.5% Christmas sales growth in U.S. 2023 to $150 billion
21
Apparel holiday sales in U.S. reached $85 billion in 2023, up 2%
22
Electronics Christmas sales totaled $120 billion globally in 2023
23
Toy sales during Christmas 2023 hit $25 billion in U.S.
24
Grocery holiday sales grew to $90 billion in U.S. 2023
25
Home goods Christmas sales reached $70 billion in U.S. 2023
26
Jewelry holiday sales totaled $8.5 billion in U.S. 2023
27
Sporting goods Christmas sales hit $12 billion globally 2023
28
Health and beauty holiday sales $35 billion in U.S. 2023
29
U.S. Super Saturday 2023 sales estimated at $38 billion
30
Christmas Eve 2023 U.S. retail sales $20 billion
Interpretation
Overall Sales and Revenue Interpretation
Across the globe, the data paints a clear, if slightly tinsel-clad, picture: our seasonal "goodwill" is now most tangibly measured by the nearly trillion-dollar drumbeat of tills, proving that while peace on earth remains elusive, a new sweater and a discounted flat-screen are reliably within reach.
05 · Category
Top Selling Products26 stats
01
Toys and games led U.S. Christmas sales at $25 billion in 2023
02
Electronics category generated $120 billion global Christmas sales 2023
03
Apparel and clothing hit $85 billion in U.S. holiday 2023
04
Books sold 20 million units during Christmas U.S. 2023, $1.2 billion
05
Home furnishings $70 billion U.S. Christmas 2023
06
Jewelry pierced $8.5 billion in U.S. holiday sales 2023
07
Health & beauty products $35 billion U.S. Christmas 2023
08
Sporting goods $12 billion global holiday 2023
09
Grocery & beverage $90 billion U.S. Christmas 2023
10
Amazon top Christmas seller: Fire TV Stick, 5 million units 2023
11
Barbie dolls sold 2 million during Christmas U.S. 2023
12
iPhone 15 topped electronics at $40 billion Christmas sales 2023
13
LEGO sets generated $9 billion global Christmas 2023
14
AirPods sales hit 10 million pairs U.S. holiday 2023
15
Nintendo Switch sold 4.7 million units Christmas 2023
16
Stanley Quencher tumblers viral, 5 million sold holiday 2023
17
Dyson vacuums $2.5 billion Christmas sales 2023
18
Lululemon apparel $3 billion holiday U.S. 2023
19
Squishmallows plush toys 8 million units Christmas 2023
20
PS5 consoles 4.5 million U.S. Christmas 2023
21
Yankee Candle top scent sales 12 million units 2023 holiday
22
Instant Pot sales surged 300% to 3 million holiday 2023
23
Elf on the Shelf 4 million kits sold Christmas 2023
24
KitchenAid stand mixers 1.5 million holiday 2023
25
Pandora charms $1.8 billion Christmas global 2023
26
Ugg boots 2.2 million pairs U.S. holiday 2023
Interpretation
Top Selling Products Interpretation
While we spent $90 billion to stay nourished and $35 billion to look good, our true holiday spirit clearly lay in the $25 billion we spent trying to drown out our relatives with new toys, AirPods, and gaming consoles.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Sophie Moreland. (2026, February 13). Christmas Retail Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/christmas-retail-statistics
MLA
Sophie Moreland. "Christmas Retail Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/christmas-retail-statistics.
Chicago
Sophie Moreland. 2026. "Christmas Retail Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/christmas-retail-statistics.
Sources & references
76 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
shopify.com