Earlier this year, the outlook for the 2025 winter holiday season appeared optimistic after 2024 holiday spending exceeded expectations. Heading into 2025, however, that brightening outlook is beginning to dim…
US
Retail
simple
Look Ahead: US Winter Holiday Shopping Market Report 2025
"Despite economic pressures, consumers still prioritize winter holiday spending. However, resilience may be tested in the season ahead as uncertainty clouds the outlook."
Brittany Steiger, Principal Analyst - Retail & eCommerce
Earlier this year, the outlook for the 2025 winter holiday season appeared optimistic after 2024 holiday spending exceeded expectations. Heading into 2025, however, that brightening outlook is beginning to dim as economic uncertainty mounts. Last season’s growth overextended many consumers leading to soft retail spending in January and February and plans to scale back purchases in the season ahead. The Trump administration’s “Liberation Day” tariffs have further complicated the outlook, unsettling global markets and raising fears about inflation and a possible recession.
Overall, economic pressures have continued to impact the holiday season. As of March, 54% of consumers agreed that financial stress makes it difficult to celebrate the winter holidays as they would prefer. Despite this, consumers have time and again proven their resilience, prioritizing the winter holidays as essential. It is still reasonable to expect this holiday season could mirror last year’s growth, with consumers finding a stable pattern of budget-conscious buying, omnichannel shopping and strong emotional connection to the season. However, uncertainty remains on the horizon; spending growth will hinge on consumers’ financial health and the state of the economy as the year progresses.
Key issues covered in this Report
A look ahead at the upcoming 2025 US winter holiday shopping season, including:
the impact of economic and market factors on consumer behaviors and winter holiday shopping
how, where and when consumers expect to shop and what they plan to buy
attitudes and behaviors toward gifting and gift purchases
shopping influences and sources of information
attitudes toward the winter holidays and winter holiday shopping
what brands and retailers can expect during the 2025 winter holiday season
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Market Size and Forecast
Market Predictions
What consumers want and why
MARKET DYNAMICS
Market context
The US economy is softening amid uncertainty
Market drivers
Predicting how market dynamics will impact the winter holiday season
Monitoring: tariffs could see consumers pull back spending
Consumers are mostly optimistic about their personal finances, but struggling households still shoulder the burden
Graph 1: consumer outlook toward personal finances over the next 12 months, by household financial situation, 2025
Graph 2: attitudes toward tariffs and personal finances, by household financial situation, 2025
Brands must respond with transparency to gain trust and loyalty
Graph 3: consumer attitudes toward brands/retailers and tariffs, 2025
Conscious consumerism is once again rising
Generational shifts are underway
Graph 4: projected population by generation in 2029
Market size and forecast
Winter holiday retail sales grew 3.6% in 2024
Graph 5: total retail sales in November and December, in current dollars, 2014-25
Winter holiday retail sales, in current dollars
Winter holiday retail sales, in inflation-adjusted dollars
Outlook for 2025: uncertain yet still hopeful
CONSUMER INSIGHTS
Consumer mindset in 2025
The consumer mindset reflects a need for balanced value
AI will amplify digital convenience in the season ahead
Graph 32: oppenness to using AI shopping assistants, 2025
Inspire consumers out of their “convenience zone”
Where consumers plan to shop
Consumers are consolidating more purchases in large retailers
Graph 33: retailers shopped, 2024
Long-term trends point toward consolidation in value-centric retailers
Graph 34: retailers shopped, 2019-25
Younger generations are branching out less during the winter holidays
Graph 35: retailers shopped, by generation and household income, 2025
What to expect in the season ahead
Factors most important in choosing where to shop
Consumers are loyal to price, but quality and selection are key differentiators
Price, quality, convenience is the winning combination
Graph 36: factors most important when choosing where to shop, 2025
All aspects of value factor in
Generational divide in approaches to value and loyalty
Graph 37: factors most important when choosing a retailer, by generation, 2025
How different types of retailers measure up
How different types of retailers measure up
Graph 38: perceptions of different winter holiday retailers, 2025
Balanced between monetary and practical value is a winning combination
How retailers and brands can maximize the value proposition
Sources of media influence
Media influence is growing
Retailers must leverage a variety of media sources to connect with consumers
Graph 39: sources of media influence on winter holiday shopping, 2025
Generational nuances underscore a need for a multifaceted strategy
Graph 40: sources of media influence on winter holiday shopping, by generation, 2025
Digital natives engage across platforms
Graph 41: top three most influential social media platforms on winter holiday shopping – any rank, by generation, 2025
Streaming audio and podcasts a growing platform for brand engagement
INNOVATION AND MARKETING STRATEGIES
Marketing and advertising
Amazon jumpstarts budget-conscious shoppers
Brands are ramping up investments in AI shopping tools
Disney puts the magic back in the winter holidays
APPENDIX
Market Definition
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology
Generations
Abbreviations and terms
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