Holiday shopping kicks off with solid start. Here are the big winners

Omnichannel retailers, who use different venues to reach consumers, and a couple of beauty companies look to be the biggest beneficiaries of Black Friday spending this year, according to Wall Street analysts. Consumer spending during Black Friday this year hit a record, boosted by more promotions than were expected and artificial intelligence-aided shopping tools. U.S. shoppers spent a record $11.8 billion online on Friday, up 9.1% from 2024, according to Adobe Analytics. The average online selling price for goods in the U.S. was 8% higher this year compared to last, Reuters reported , citing Salesforce. Analysts are keeping a close eye on companies offering Black Friday promotional discounts, studying how higher prices and inflationary pressures are affecting consumer behavior this year.