Online Holiday Spending Expected to Rise 5.3%, Fueled by Debt

US shoppers will spend $253.4 billion online in November and December, up 5.3% from 2024, according to Adobe Inc., with “buy now pay later” checkout options fueling growth.

The forecast represents a slowdown from last year, when online spending rose 8.7%, the firm said. Shoppers plan to curb overall holiday spending due to tariff-related price increases and a weakening labor market, according to a survey released in September by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Checkout options that let shoppers purchase items and pay for them over time will drive $20.2 billion in holiday spending, up 11% from a year earlier and more than twice ...