Move over Black Friday. A new Nielsen report, the “Holiday Spending and Black Friday/Cyber Monday Forecast” shows that consumers prefer shopping on Cyber Monday.
Highlights
· 85% of consumers are skipping Black Friday this year, part of a four-year downward trend.
· Nearly 50% of consumers say they will shop online this Cyber Monday, a 16-point increase from 2012.
· 51% say they will do their Black Friday shopping online—Black Friday might be merging with Cyber Monday as consumers search for deals in comfort.
· Big ticket items top the list, such as electronics like phones, computers, laptops, iPads and eReaders (70%), apparel (59%) and toys (46%).
Tis The Season To Be Fiscally Cautious
· Nearly a quarter (22%) of US consumers report that they have already started their holiday shopping.
· U.S. consumer sentiment is at its highest point in five years: 98 on the Nielsen Consumer Confidence Index but consumers are still feeling the sting of the recession and of rising inflation.
· Nielsen expects a marginally stronger holiday shopping season in 2013 compared to 2012.
· The majority of holiday spending is expected to be between $250 to $500 this season, consistent with 2012 spending.
· Gift Cards, Tech Products and Toys are expected to be top sellers this holiday season.
