Black Friday sales could be up from last year

• Spending on experiences, like time with loved ones or tickets to events, is expected to be up 24% year over year in Chicago.

By the numbers: Holiday spending will be up nationally about 8% at $1,778, slightly higher than Chicago's spending.

• There's a nearly 6% increase since 2019 in spending on expenses like restaurant gift cards and event tickets, from $566 to $746.
• Online shopping still dominates, with 77% of respondents choosing to buy that way, followed by shopping mass retailers at 52%

Affordability is also key: 60% said they would switch brands if the products were cheaper.

• 51% of those surveyed in Chicago planned to get in on Black Friday deals.

Zoom in: One reason experience spending could be up is that younger people especially are seeking opportunities for classes, in-store events, performances and meetups, according to findings from events hosting website Eventbrite.

• There was a 67% uptick in searches for local activities, from crafting to cooking classes, on the site from May to September this year.
• The top reasons young people (18-34) sought out these events was to make new friends and learn a new hobby.

Between the lines: Something retailers are especially aware of this time of year is shoplifting, but there could be some good news in Chicago on that front, a study from the Council on Criminal Justice found.

• There was an 11.6% drop in reported shoplifting in 2023 compared with 2018.
• Unsurprisingly, most shoplifting occurred downtown, where retail like the Magnificent Mile and the Gold Coast are clustered, followed by neighborhoods like Lincoln Park and Old Town.

Flashback: Last year was rough for retailers in Uptown, Rogers Park and Bucktown, where shoplifting incidents were twice the citywide average.

The bottom line: Shopping locally is still important for many. About 32% of Chicago shoppers plan to choose independent stores, according to Deloitte, so check out all the Small Business Saturday specials this weekend.