Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 04, 2025
2025 Holiday Spending to Jump 6% as Shippers Prioritize Value Over Discounts
TLDR
- Retailers can gain advantage by offering targeted 40% discounts and value-driven initiatives to meet consumer demand while maintaining profitability during holiday sales.
- Simon-Kucher's 2025 report shows consumers plan early, use 2.4 payment methods, and expect category-specific discounts while embracing AI for deal tracking and price comparisons.
- Consumers prioritize quality and value over price, fostering more meaningful purchases and reducing returns, which supports sustainable retail practices and better shopping experiences.
- 54% of shoppers now use AI for holiday support, with social media inspiring 64% of purchases and Black Friday remaining the top sales event.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because holiday shopping trends directly impact both consumer wallets and retail strategies during the critical fourth-quarter sales period. For consumers, understanding these spending patterns helps with budget planning and identifying the best times to shop for maximum value. For retailers, these insights are crucial for inventory planning, pricing strategies, and marketing approaches that align with consumer expectations. The shift toward quality over discounts indicates changing consumer priorities that could reshape retail landscapes, while the growing influence of AI and social media in shopping decisions reflects broader technological transformations affecting how people make purchasing decisions. With tariffs potentially affecting prices, this information helps both businesses and consumers navigate potential cost increases during the holiday season.
Summary
Holiday shoppers are projected to increase spending by at least 6% in 2025, reaching up to $1,077 per household according to Simon-Kucher's comprehensive 7th Annual Holiday Shopping Report. The global consultancy's data-driven insights reveal that consumers are adopting stricter budgets while prioritizing quality and value over mere price considerations across most categories. Shikha Jain, Partner and Head of Consumer and Retail for North America, emphasizes that retailers must balance promotions with differentiated discount strategies to meet evolving consumer expectations while maintaining profitability.
The report identifies several key trends, including consumers expecting discounts up to 40%, with category-specific spending patterns showing over 50% of shoppers spending more than $100 on high-value items like appliances and electronics. Social media serves as inspiration for 64% of shoppers, while 66% favor early shopping events from Black Friday to Super Saturday. AI adoption is growing mainstream, with 54% using it for shopping support, though generational differences persist in adoption rates. Tariff disruptions concern 44% of consumers, adding financial pressure on both essential and discretionary goods.
Simon-Kucher's study, conducted through an anonymous survey of 1,513 US consumers between July 25-31, 2025, has become a trusted resource for retailers and consumer brands due to its accurate past predictions. The consultancy's focus on unlocking better growth through optimized commercial strategies positions this report as essential reading for understanding the evolving holiday shopping landscape where consumers value transparency, convenience, and quality experiences over simple discount chasing.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by Reportable. Read the original source here, 2025 Holiday Spending to Jump 6% as Shippers Prioritize Value Over Discounts
