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Online spending rose 3 % to a track record $ 1.2 trillion globally over the holiday period , with U.S.-sales , specifically , growing 4 % to $ 282 billion .
That’saccording to a new reportfrom Salesforce , which aggregated data from across its various cloud services , include Agentforce , Commerce Cloud , Marketing Cloud , and Service Cloud , to garner insights into outlay activeness spanning 1.5 billion shopper across dozen of countries from November 1 through December 31 , 2024 .
Overall , the figures light slenderly short of Salesforce ’s forecast : It hadpredictedholiday period online sales emergence of 2 % ( $ 1.19 trillion ) . Despite that deficit , marquee escort saw standout operation : Black Friday transactionsincreased 5%to a record $ 74.4 billion , whileCyber Monday salesgrew 3 % to $ 49.7 billion . And Thanksgivinggenerated $ 33.6 billion in sales globally , up 6 % .
There is another current that could undercut these numbers though : a higher - than - normal rate of returns . Salesforce state that consumers have already recouped $ 122 billion from merchandize return to retailers . That ’s up by 28 % on last year , a figure that could eventually rise to $ 133 billion , harmonize to the report .
This is “ a cause for concern , ” Salesforce director of consumer insights Caila Schwartz says , though she lend that other violence could help countervail those pull . Indeed , Salesforce isone ofmany in the marketbuilding AI root for retail merchant — the pitch being that AI investment funds retailers make will lead to lower operational costs , and more personalized and enlist gross sales channel for customers . Salesforce says that AI andagents“influenced ” holiday expenditure to the tune of $ 229 billion through target offers , personalized support , and product passport , up 6 % year - on - class . AI - powered client overhaul ingestion , specifically , rose 42 % .
“ Retailers who have embrace AI and federal agent are already go out the benefit , but these prick will be even more vital in the new class , as retailers aim to denigrate revenue losses on returns and reengage with shopper , ” Schwartz said .
