Mastercard SpendingPulse estimated that U.S. retail spending excluding vehicles rose 2.5% on November 24, 2023 compared with Black Friday a year earlier. The figures covered online and physical purchases across payment methods and were not adjusted for inflation.

Online sales grew 8.5%, while store sales increased 1.1%. Mastercard identified clothing and jewelry as leading gift categories for the day. Department stores, furniture and home furnishings performed more weakly than several other sectors.

The company said retailers had begun promotions earlier in November, giving consumers more time to compare prices. Its analysis also noted that meals and sporting events formed part of the holiday weekend alongside shopping, helping explain interest in buying online.

Mastercard adviser Steve Sadove described shoppers as using websites, applications and different sales channels to maximize value. Published on November 25, the report provided a snapshot of that shopping day rather than results for the full 2023 holiday season.