Retailers small and large are urging their customers to buy their merchandise before President-elect Trump's tariff plans become a reality.
Why it matters: As Americans gear up for the holiday shopping season, the looming threat of tariffs has imbued their to-buy lists with a sense of urgency. Higher tariffs typically mean higher prices for consumers.
Retailers are switching gears from Black Friday to Cyber Monday and unveiling new deals to encourage consumers to keep shopping.
Why it matters: The highly competitive holiday shopping season can be make-or-break for retailers and inflation-weary consumers are searching for bargains and discounts.
Why it matters: A record 183.4 million shoppers are expected to shop between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday with Black Friday projected to be the busiest day, according to the NRF survey, according to the National Retail Federation's annual survey.
As a record number of travelers fly this Thanksgiving, some may wind up enjoying new Biden-era refund rules that could be on the chopping block after President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.
Why it matters: Trump and his appointees will likely try to defang consumer protection efforts at the Transportation Department (DOT) and across the federal government, as they did during his first term.
Most of the nation's largest retailers from Costco to Walmart will keep doors closed on Thanksgiving while a limited number are open with reduced hours Thursday.
Why it matters: Thanksgiving is not quite the official start of Black Friday in-person shopping like it was before the pandemic.