Amanda Prestigiacomo

A decade ago, online sales in that timeframe were just under $2 billion. And despite Americans still struggling with cumulative inflation over the past three years, today is still expected to be the biggest shopping day of the year. One recent survey found that 47% of respondents said that they plan on shopping on Black Friday.

That's up from 31% last year, and there was a similar increase for Cyber Monday. Overall, Friday through Cyber Monday, a global consulting firm called Bain & Company has forecasted that we'll see 5% growth in retail sales compared to last year. You mentioned inflation still being an issue. Is that going to affect what consumers are looking for this time around?

That's up from 31% last year, and there was a similar increase for Cyber Monday. Overall, Friday through Cyber Monday, a global consulting firm called Bain & Company has forecasted that we'll see 5% growth in retail sales compared to last year. You mentioned inflation still being an issue. Is that going to affect what consumers are looking for this time around?

Well, Americans are wanting a deal on essentials, and they're not necessarily buying luxury. Chains known for reasonably priced goods like TJ Maxx and Walmart had particularly strong numbers heading into Black Friday. Basically, the price has to be right for the right goods, but shoppers on the hunt should really be on the lookout for supposed deals that aren't really deals.

Well, Americans are wanting a deal on essentials, and they're not necessarily buying luxury. Chains known for reasonably priced goods like TJ Maxx and Walmart had particularly strong numbers heading into Black Friday. Basically, the price has to be right for the right goods, but shoppers on the hunt should really be on the lookout for supposed deals that aren't really deals.

A report from WalletHub compared Black Friday ads against their Amazon prices just a few months ago, and they found that 41% of the items at major retailers are actually not less expensive compared to their pre-Black Friday prices. Retailers are sometimes inflating original prices so it looks like a deal. It would be wise to cross-check any deal you think you're getting.

A report from WalletHub compared Black Friday ads against their Amazon prices just a few months ago, and they found that 41% of the items at major retailers are actually not less expensive compared to their pre-Black Friday prices. Retailers are sometimes inflating original prices so it looks like a deal. It would be wise to cross-check any deal you think you're getting.

Personally, I've seen a lot of this happen online specifically. Right, it's frustrating.

Personally, I've seen a lot of this happen online specifically. Right, it's frustrating.

Yeah, so as we've covered here, Trump has proposed an extra 10% tariff on Chinese imports and a 25% levy on all products from Mexico and Canada. He tied that to the flow of migrants and illegal drugs coming into the U.S. Some experts have speculated that this will boost sales between Friday and Monday.

Yeah, so as we've covered here, Trump has proposed an extra 10% tariff on Chinese imports and a 25% levy on all products from Mexico and Canada. He tied that to the flow of migrants and illegal drugs coming into the U.S. Some experts have speculated that this will boost sales between Friday and Monday.

They think Americans will want to buy those big ticket items before they see the effects from tariffs. But on the other side of that, the markets really didn't have a huge reaction to Trump's proposed tariffs. And actually, the U.S. dollar rose on Tuesday and the Mexican peso and Canadian dollar slid.

They think Americans will want to buy those big ticket items before they see the effects from tariffs. But on the other side of that, the markets really didn't have a huge reaction to Trump's proposed tariffs. And actually, the U.S. dollar rose on Tuesday and the Mexican peso and Canadian dollar slid.

Experts say that they see the signaling on tariffs from Trump as negotiating, art of the deal style. They see it as more of a threat than something he'll actually do right away. Perhaps consumers view it that way, too. Also worth noting, some of these companies that have previously relied heavily on China are now moving elsewhere.

Experts say that they see the signaling on tariffs from Trump as negotiating, art of the deal style. They see it as more of a threat than something he'll actually do right away. Perhaps consumers view it that way, too. Also worth noting, some of these companies that have previously relied heavily on China are now moving elsewhere.

In one example, fashion company Steve Madden said in response to Trump's proposal that it's putting a plan in motion to move production out of China. More than 70% of the brand's U.S. imports currently come from China, but the CEO said he'll decrease that to just about a quarter of its business. So companies already trying to head off those potential price increases for consumers.

In one example, fashion company Steve Madden said in response to Trump's proposal that it's putting a plan in motion to move production out of China. More than 70% of the brand's U.S. imports currently come from China, but the CEO said he'll decrease that to just about a quarter of its business. So companies already trying to head off those potential price increases for consumers.

We're spending $1,600 a month on this drug. There's a bill right now before Congress that will make it available to everybody who's overweight, which is 74% of the American population. That alone will cost $3 trillion a year.

We're spending $1,600 a month on this drug. There's a bill right now before Congress that will make it available to everybody who's overweight, which is 74% of the American population. That alone will cost $3 trillion a year.

If we spent about one fifth of that giving good food, three meals a day, to every man, woman, and child in our country, we could solve the obesity and diabetes epidemic overnight. A tiny fraction of the cost.