Australians are expected to splash a record $7.2 billion over this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales weekend, despite the ongoing pressure on household budgets.
Spending across the four-day sales period from November 27 to 30 is forecast to rise 5.5 per cent on last year – delivering an additional $374m in sales.
Research from the Australian Retail Council (ARC) and Roy Morgan found shoppers plan to spend an average of $920, up $116 or 14.4 per cent on 2025.
Almost one in three shoppers expects to spend at least $1,000, while about 5.8 million Australians intend to take part in the sales.
ARC chief industry engagement officer Fleur Brown said pressure on household budgets was driving consumers to seek out better value.
“With an unrelenting pressure on many household budgets, shoppers are looking to make their money go even further this year,” Ms Brown said.
Low prices were the leading motivation for shoppers, cited by 58 per cent of respondents – up from 42 per cent last year.
The proportion shopping to save money on Christmas gifts also climbed from 25 to 39 per cent, while one in four said they wanted to get their Christmas shopping started early.
AI is also expected to play a growing role in the bargain hunt, with one in four respondents planning to use a chatbot to research products and find deals.
Of those, 72 per cent will be using one for the first time during the sales event.
These figures come despite the ongoing cost of living crisis, with the RBA raising interest rates last week to an 18-year high to 4.85 per cent.
It follows research from Shopify last month which found 62 per cent of Australians planned to use AI for at least one holiday shopping task.
However, shoppers have been warned to watch out for misleading discounts and high-pressure sales tactics, with the ACCC cracking down on Black Friday promotions.
The consumer watchdog has warned that a sale sign does not always mean a genuine bargain, urging customers to check before buying.
Read related topics:Australian business