Reddit Discussion Analysis: Record Black Friday Sales and Economic Implications

On November 29, 2025, a Reddit post discussed U.S. Black Friday online sales hitting a record $11.8 billion (per Adobe Analytics) and Salesforce’s $18 billion total spending report. Users debated the drivers of these sales and their economic significance.

• Inflation vs. Real Growth
  : Users questioned if sales growth is due to inflation rather than real volume, e.g., “Who cares, it’s called inflation. Tell me what it is in real dollars.”
• Credit Card Debt
  : Concerns about the role of credit card debt in driving sales.
• Wealth Inequality
  : Top 10% of households are seen as the main consumers, reflecting inequality.
• Post-Holiday Spending
  : Focus on post-Black Friday spending to gauge true economic health.
• Positive Note
  : One user celebrated improved disposable income.

• Sales Metrics
  : Adobe reported $11.8B online sales (+9.1% YoY); Salesforce noted $18B total spending (+3% YoY) with luxury apparel as top category.
• Economic Context
  : Federal Reserve data shows $1.21T record CC debt; Moody’s reports top 10% earners account for ~49.2% of consumer spending (Q2 2025).
• Market Impact
  : Consumer Cyclical sector rose 0.49% on Nov 28; major indices (S&P500 +0.39%, Dow +0.49%) closed higher.

• Mixed Signals
  : Sales growth is accompanied by inflation, debt, and inequality concerns.
• Risks
  : High CC debt and potential post-holiday underspending.
• Affected Sectors
  : Retail, luxury goods, payment processing.

The discussion reveals mixed views on record sales. While sales numbers are strong, underlying issues like inflation, debt, and inequality suggest caution. Monitoring post-holiday trends is critical.