News Edition
Each year, the holiday shopping season is the most popular time for consumer spending in the United States. In order to maintain success during this time, it is important from a financial standpoint for lenders and retailers to check the pulse of the market and use data to anticipate consumer behavior.
The most volatile group of consumers today are Generation Z and Millennials, as they are experiencing tighter budgets and facing less leisure spending as compared to previous years. In fact, the typical US consumer has seen a 12% decrease in median total assets over the past 3 years. Additionally, Generation Z credit users have doubled since 2021, showing an increased need for additional channels to store debts.
This research has identified a number of trends to watch for the 2025 holiday season. Many consumers are relying on early sale periods like Cyber Monday and Black Friday to complete the majority of their shopping. Buy Now, Pay Later systems are very popular, as is domestic travel. Ultimately, saving is the name of the game for the modern consumer, which is important for both lenders and retailers to prepare for the holidays. With less discretionary spending and an emphasis on value, consumers are driven by savings first and foremost this holiday season.
Source: Equifax
