From dizzying global totals to intimate family budgets, this year’s holiday spending statistics paint a vivid picture of how the world celebrated, revealing not just what we bought but how our habits are fundamentally changing.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, U.S. holiday consumer spending totaled $957.3 billion, marking a 3.8% increase from 2022 according to the National Retail Federation
- Global holiday retail sales reached $1.1 trillion in 2022, driven by e-commerce growth per Statista data
- U.S. holiday spending per consumer averaged $875 in 2023, up 4% from prior year via NRF survey
- U.S. holiday spending 2023 included $240 billion on gifts per NRF breakdown
- Apparel and accessories accounted for 18% of U.S. holiday spend or $172 billion in 2023 via Census Bureau
- Toys and games sales hit $28.5 billion during 2023 holidays per NPD Group
- U.S. online holiday sales hit $223 billion in 2023, up 6.7% per Adobe Analytics
- Cyber Monday 2023 online sales record $12.4 billion, +9.6% YoY via Adobe
- Black Friday 2023 U.S. online sales $9.8 billion, up 7.5% per Adobe Analytics
- Gen Z online holiday spending averaged $450 per person in 2023, 25% above average per Attentive
- Millennials planned $1,050 holiday budgets in 2023, highest among generations via Deloitte survey
- Boomers spent $782 on average for holidays 2023, focusing on family gifts per AARP
- Holiday retail contributed 0.5% to U.S. GDP growth in Q4 2023 per BEA estimates
- Holiday sales added 200,000 seasonal jobs in U.S. 2023 totaling 1.6 million per NRF
- Small businesses captured 30% of holiday spend, $288 billion in 2023 via American Express
Holiday spending grew modestly last year in major markets worldwide.
Consumer Demographics and Behavior
- Gen Z online holiday spending averaged $450 per person in 2023, 25% above average per Attentive
- Millennials planned $1,050 holiday budgets in 2023, highest among generations via Deloitte survey
- Boomers spent $782 on average for holidays 2023, focusing on family gifts per AARP
- 68% of parents with kids under 18 increased holiday budgets in 2023 per NRF
- Urban consumers spent 15% more on holidays than rural in 2023, $980 vs $850 avg via Census data
- High-income households ($100k+) averaged $1,500 holiday spend 2023 per Federal Reserve survey
- Single shoppers spent $620 on average holidays 2023 vs $1,200 for families per Numerator
- Hispanic consumers boosted holiday spending 12% to $95 billion total in 2023 via Nielsen
- Black shoppers averaged $850 holiday budget 2023, up 8% YoY per Packaged Facts
- Women controlled 75% of holiday shopping decisions and spent $550 avg in 2023 via AlixPartners
- 42% of consumers used buy now pay later for holidays 2023, avg $300 per user per Affirm
- 55% of shoppers started holiday buying before November in 2023 per Google Trends
- Loyalty program members spent 20% more, $1,050 avg holiday 2023 via Bond Brand Loyalty
- Eco-conscious shoppers paid 10% premium on sustainable gifts, 35% of total 2023 per NielsenIQ
- 62% of consumers sought deals, influencing $300 avg savings per household 2023 via Cox Automotive
- Pet owners spent $250 extra on pet gifts holidays 2023, 40% of households per APPA
- College students averaged $350 holiday spend 2023, 80% on peers/family per NCSA
- Empty nesters increased experiential gifts by 25%, $450 avg 2023 via Experian
- Low-income (<$50k) cut holiday budgets 5% to $650 avg in 2023 per Urban Institute
- 71% of consumers shopped for self during holidays 2023, $180 avg self-gifting per NRF
Consumer Demographics and Behavior Interpretation
The numbers tell a story where Gen Z's enthusiastic splurge sets a new baseline, Millennials proudly claim the budgetary throne, and everyone else—from deal-seekers to self-gifters—navigates a holiday season where love, loyalty, and a touch of fiscal daring are all wrapped up in the price tag.
E-commerce and Online Trends
- U.S. online holiday sales hit $223 billion in 2023, up 6.7% per Adobe Analytics
- Cyber Monday 2023 online sales record $12.4 billion, +9.6% YoY via Adobe
- Black Friday 2023 U.S. online sales $9.8 billion, up 7.5% per Adobe Analytics
- Mobile commerce accounted for 58% of online holiday sales in 2023 totaling $130 billion via Statista
- Amazon captured 38% of U.S. online holiday spend in 2023 per Slice data
- Walmart e-commerce holiday sales grew 22% to $20 billion in 2023 via company reports
- Online apparel sales $50 billion during 2023 holidays up 10% per Edited
- Digital downloads like music and apps $4.2 billion holiday 2023 via IFPI
- Social commerce sales hit $22 billion in U.S. holidays 2023 per Insider Intelligence
- Buy Online Pick Up In Store (BOPIS) orders 25% of online holiday volume in 2023 per Salesforce
- Voice commerce via Alexa/Siri $5 billion holiday sales 2023 estimates Voicebot.ai
- Livestream shopping generated $50 billion globally in 2023 holiday peak per McKinsey
- Subscription box holiday gifts $3.8 billion online sales 2023 via Subbly
- NFT and digital collectibles holiday sales $1.2 billion in 2023 via DappRadar
- Online grocery holiday orders up 15% to $12 billion in 2023 per Brick Meets Click
- Luxury goods online holiday sales $18 billion U.S. 2023 via Bain & Company
- Cross-border e-commerce holiday volume $45 billion in 2023 per eMarketer
- AR try-on features boosted online conversion 30% during 2023 holidays per Shopify
- Email marketing drove 22% of online holiday sales in 2023 totaling $49 billion via Litmus
- Online toy sales $15 billion in 2023 holidays, 52% of total toy market per Circana
E-commerce and Online Trends Interpretation
Americans, fueled by digital elves and borderline magical checkout buttons, spent a record $223 billion online this holiday season, proving that the spirit of giving now flows through a superhighway of one-click purchases, Alexa commands, and livestream shopping carts, all while our mobile phones quietly captured 58% of the haul like tiny, insatiable wallets.
Economic and Regional Impacts
- Holiday retail contributed 0.5% to U.S. GDP growth in Q4 2023 per BEA estimates
- Holiday sales added 200,000 seasonal jobs in U.S. 2023 totaling 1.6 million per NRF
- Small businesses captured 30% of holiday spend, $288 billion in 2023 via American Express
- Northeast U.S. holiday spending per capita $3,200 highest regionally in 2023 per Census
- California holiday retail sales $120 billion in 2023, 12% of national total per CDTFA
- Midwest saw 4.2% holiday sales growth slowest in 2023 per Deloitte regional analysis
- Imports for holiday goods added $50 billion to U.S. trade deficit Q4 2023 per Census Trade
- Inflation cooled to 2.1% impact on holiday goods in 2023 per BLS CPI data
- Charity donations during holidays totaled $85 billion in 2023, 30% of annual giving per Giving USA
- Texas holiday sales tax revenue $15 billion in 2023 up 5% per Texas Comptroller
- Florida tourism-driven holiday spend $40 billion in 2023 per VISIT Florida
- Pacific Northwest holiday growth 6.1% highest regional 2023 via Moody's Analytics
- Holiday shipping costs added $10 billion to consumer prices 2023 per ShipMatrix
- Supply chain disruptions reduced holiday inventory 8% costing $20 billion sales per IHS Markit
- UK high streets saw £12 billion holiday footfall spend 2023 per Springboard
- Canada retail holiday contribution to GDP 0.4% in Q4 2023 per Statistics Canada
- EU holiday trade surplus €15 billion in 2023 per Eurostat
- Asia-Pacific holiday e-commerce boosted regional GDP 0.3% 2023 per ADB
- U.S. South holiday spending $250 billion total 2023, fastest growing region per Census regions
Economic and Regional Impacts Interpretation
While we decked the halls with a gusto that gave the U.S. economy a 0.5% nudge and created a flurry of seasonal jobs, the holiday spirit was a mixed bag of regional cheer, with the Northeast spending lavishly per person, the South growing fastest overall, and everyone collectively groaning at an extra $10 billion in shipping costs.
Gifts and Apparel Spending
- U.S. holiday spending 2023 included $240 billion on gifts per NRF breakdown
- Apparel and accessories accounted for 18% of U.S. holiday spend or $172 billion in 2023 via Census Bureau
- Toys and games sales hit $28.5 billion during 2023 holidays per NPD Group
- Electronics and appliances made up 15% of holiday budgets, $143 billion in 2023 per NRF
- Food and beverage holiday spending reached $110 billion in U.S. 2023 via FMI
- Home furnishings sales surged 12% to $65 billion in holiday 2023 per Home Furnishings Association
- Jewelry spending during holidays was $12.4 billion in 2023 per Jewelers Board of Trade
- Books and entertainment gifts totaled $8.7 billion in U.S. holidays 2023 via AAP
- Sporting goods holiday sales $15.2 billion in 2023 up 5% per SGMA
- Health and beauty products $22 billion during 2023 holidays per IRI
- Toys for ages 6-12 dominated with $10.3 billion sales in 2023 holiday per Circana
- Women's apparel holiday spend $45 billion in 2023 via Edited data
- Men's clothing $28 billion during U.S. holidays 2023 per NPD
- Video games sales $9.1 billion holiday 2023 per ESA
- Pet gifts spending reached $12 billion in 2023 holidays per APPA
- Candy and confectionery $4.5 billion holiday sales 2023 via NCA
- Furniture holiday purchases $18 billion in 2023 per AHFA
- Kitchenware and housewares $14.7 billion U.S. holiday 2023 via HIRI
- Art and hobby supplies $3.2 billion during holidays 2023 per CHA
- Musical instruments gifts $1.1 billion holiday 2023 estimates NAMM
- Dolls and plush toys $6.8 billion sales 2023 holiday per Toy Association
- Board games $2.4 billion during U.S. holidays 2023 via NPD
- Gift cards purchased $28 billion in 2023 holidays per NAPCO Research
- Experiential gifts like tickets $19 billion holiday spend 2023 per Eventbrite
Gifts and Apparel Spending Interpretation
Americans proved in 2023 that while we may argue about everything else, we are united in our solemn, glitter-dusted commitment to solving all of life's problems—from existential dread to what to get your nephew—with a very specific and staggeringly expensive avalanche of sweaters, toys, gadgets, and gift cards.
Overall Spending Statistics
- In 2023, U.S. holiday consumer spending totaled $957.3 billion, marking a 3.8% increase from 2022 according to the National Retail Federation
- Global holiday retail sales reached $1.1 trillion in 2022, driven by e-commerce growth per Statista data
- U.S. holiday spending per consumer averaged $875 in 2023, up 4% from prior year via NRF survey
- 2024 projected U.S. holiday sales at $979.5 billion, a 2.5-3.5% rise per NRF forecast
- UK Christmas spending hit £89.2 billion in 2023, 2.1% higher than 2022 according to KPMG
- Average U.S. household holiday spend was $1,028 in 2023 per American Express survey
- Canadian holiday spending totaled CAD 58.2 billion in 2023, up 1.8% YoY via Retail Council of Canada
- In 2022, U.S. Black Friday-Cyber Monday sales hit $9.12 billion online alone per Adobe Analytics
- European holiday e-commerce sales reached €250 billion in 2023 estimates from Ecommerce Europe
- Australian Christmas retail sales grew 3.2% to AUD 52.4 billion in 2023 per Australian Retailers Association
- U.S. holiday spending accounted for 19% of annual retail sales in 2023 per U.S. Census Bureau
- Brazil's holiday spending surged 8.5% to BRL 120 billion in 2023 via FecomercioSP
- 2023 U.S. per capita holiday spend was $2,850 according to Deloitte analysis
- Japan's year-end spending reached ¥10.5 trillion in 2023, up 2% per Japan Department Stores Association
- India festive season sales hit INR 5 lakh crore in 2023 estimates from Deloitte India
- France holiday retail turnover was €102 billion in 2023 per FEVAD
- Germany Christmas market sales totaled €5.2 billion in 2023 via German Trade Association
- Mexico holiday spending grew 4.1% to MXN 450 billion in 2023 per ANTAD
- South Korea Chuseok and Christmas combined spend was KRW 45 trillion in 2023 per KOSTAT
- U.S. 2023 holiday sales beat inflation by 1.2% growth per Mastercard SpendingPulse
- China Singles' Day 2023 sales hit RMB 1.68 trillion on Alibaba platforms
- Italy Natale spending reached €45 billion in 2023 per Confcommercio
- Spain holiday retail sales up 3.4% to €28 billion in 2023 via Mercamadrid
- Turkey holiday shopping totaled TRY 500 billion in 2023 estimates from TOBB
- Russia New Year spending grew 5% to RUB 1.2 trillion in 2023 per Rosstat
- Sweden Jul spending hit SEK 120 billion in 2023 per Svensk Handel
- Netherlands holiday sales €15.6 billion in 2023 up 2.8% via CBS Netherlands
- U.S. 2022 holiday spend inflation-adjusted grew 1% per BEA data
- Singapore Christmas sales SGD 2.5 billion in 2023 per SPRING Singapore
Overall Spending Statistics Interpretation
As Santa's global ledger gets fatter each year, it seems the true spirit of the holidays is now measured in a universal currency of carefully wrapped, digitally delivered, and globally synchronized consumer enthusiasm.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NRFnrf.comVisit source
- Reference 2STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 3KPMGkpmg.comVisit source
- Reference 4AMERICANEXPRESSamericanexpress.comVisit source
- Reference 5RETAILCOUNCILretailcouncil.orgVisit source
- Reference 6BUSINESSbusiness.adobe.comVisit source
- Reference 7ECOMMERCE-EUROPEecommerce-europe.euVisit source
- Reference 8RETAILretail.org.auVisit source
- Reference 9CENSUScensus.govVisit source
- Reference 10FECOMERCIOfecomercio.com.brVisit source
- Reference 11DELOITTEwww2.deloitte.comVisit source
- Reference 12DAJdaj.or.jpVisit source
- Reference 13FEVADfevad.comVisit source
- Reference 14EHIehi.deVisit source
- Reference 15ANTADantad.netVisit source
- Reference 16KOSTATkostat.go.krVisit source
- Reference 17MASTERCARDmastercard.comVisit source
- Reference 18ALIBABAalibaba.comVisit source
- Reference 19CONFCOMMERCIOconfcommercio.itVisit source
- Reference 20MERCAMADRIDmercamadrid.esVisit source
- Reference 21TOBBtobb.org.trVisit source
- Reference 22ROSSTATrosstat.gov.ruVisit source
- Reference 23SVENSKHANDELsvenskhandel.seVisit source
- Reference 24CBScbs.nlVisit source
- Reference 25BEAbea.govVisit source
- Reference 26ENTERPRISESGenterprisesg.gov.sgVisit source
- Reference 27NPDGROUPnpdgroup.comVisit source
- Reference 28FMIfmi.orgVisit source
- Reference 29MYHFAmyhfa.orgVisit source
- Reference 30JEWELERSBOARDjewelersboard.comVisit source
- Reference 31PUBLISHERSpublishers.orgVisit source
- Reference 32SGMAsgma.comVisit source
- Reference 33IRIWORLDWIDEiriworldwide.comVisit source
- Reference 34CIRCANAcircana.comVisit source
- Reference 35EDITEDedited.comVisit source
- Reference 36THEESAtheesa.comVisit source
- Reference 37AMERICANPETPRODUCTSamericanpetproducts.orgVisit source
- Reference 38CANDYUSAcandyusa.comVisit source
- Reference 39AHFAHQahfahq.orgVisit source
- Reference 40HIRIhiri.orgVisit source
- Reference 41CRAFTINDUSTRYALLIANCEcraftindustryalliance.orgVisit source
- Reference 42NAMMnamm.orgVisit source
- Reference 43TOYASSOCIATIONtoyassociation.orgVisit source
- Reference 44NAPCORESEARCHnapcoresearch.comVisit source
- Reference 45EVENTBRITEeventbrite.comVisit source
- Reference 46SLICETHEPIEslicethepie.comVisit source
- Reference 47CORPORATEcorporate.walmart.comVisit source
- Reference 48IFPIifpi.orgVisit source
- Reference 49INSIDERINTELLIGENCEinsiderintelligence.comVisit source
- Reference 50SALESFORCEsalesforce.comVisit source
- Reference 51VOICEBOTvoicebot.aiVisit source
- Reference 52MCKINSEYmckinsey.comVisit source
- Reference 53SUBBLYsubbly.coVisit source
- Reference 54DAPPRADARdappradar.comVisit source
- Reference 55BRICKMEETSCLICKbrickmeetsclick.comVisit source
- Reference 56BAINbain.comVisit source
- Reference 57EMARKETERemarketer.comVisit source
- Reference 58SHOPIFYshopify.comVisit source
- Reference 59LITMUSlitmus.comVisit source
- Reference 60ATTENTIVEattentive.comVisit source
- Reference 61AARPaarp.orgVisit source
- Reference 62FEDERALRESERVEfederalreserve.govVisit source
- Reference 63NUMERATORnumerator.comVisit source
- Reference 64NIELSENnielsen.comVisit source
- Reference 65PACKAGEDFACTSpackagedfacts.comVisit source
- Reference 66ALIXPARTNERSalixpartners.comVisit source
- Reference 67AFFIRMaffirm.comVisit source
- Reference 68TRENDStrends.google.comVisit source
- Reference 69BONDBRANDLOYALTYbondbrandloyalty.comVisit source
- Reference 70NIELSENIQnielseniq.comVisit source
- Reference 71COXAUTOINCcoxautoinc.comVisit source
- Reference 72NSCA-LIFTnsca-lift.orgVisit source
- Reference 73EXPERIANexperian.comVisit source
- Reference 74URBANurban.orgVisit source
- Reference 75CDTFAcdtfa.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 76BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 77GIVINGUSAgivingusa.orgVisit source
- Reference 78COMPTROLLERcomptroller.texas.govVisit source
- Reference 79VISITFLORIDAvisitflorida.comVisit source
- Reference 80ECONOMYeconomy.comVisit source
- Reference 81SHIPMATRIXshipmatrix.comVisit source
- Reference 82IHSMARKITihsmarkit.comVisit source
- Reference 83SPRINGBOARDDATAspringboarddata.comVisit source
- Reference 84STATCANstatcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 85ECec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 86ADBadb.orgVisit source
