Why is Black Friday early this year?

Black Friday deals in 2025 (falling on November 28) began earlier due to intense, record-high competition among retailers, a push for better consumer engagement, and the need for brands to boost sales in a cautious, high-inflation economy. Retailers used extended, month-long sales to manage inventory, secure early holiday spending, and increase customer loyalty.

Why is Black Friday starting early?

As Black Friday became more popular, so did the competition among retailers to capture the attention and spending dollars of the consumers. Stores began opening earlier, with some starting their sales as early as Thanksgiving night.

Why does the Black Friday date change?

Since Black Friday is tied to Thanksgiving, its date shifts from year to year. However, it consistently lands on the Friday after the fourth Thursday of November. Knowing the exact date well in advance gives shoppers plenty of time to plan their purchases and set a budget for the deals ahead.

Why has Black Friday changed?

By 2021, spending during the holiday season was expected to continue to increase, but Black Friday was no longer a single day. It was instead an opportunity for retailers to offer deals during the season as online shopping continued to change consumer behavior.

Are early Black Friday deals better?

Yes — early Black Friday deals can absolutely be worth it. But their value depends on what you're buying, how well you've done your research, and how much risk you're willing to accept. For shoppers who want calm, availability and earlier access, early deals are a strong strategy.

Here Are the Retailers Offering Early Black Friday Deals in 2025

Should I buy now or wait until Black Friday?

Don't wait until the day after Black Friday

In our experience, the later you get into a sale, the more likely it is for a product to sell out. So, depending on when you're buying, it really determines when you need to click "add to cart." If it's the week before Black Friday, you may want to wait to make a purchase.

Was Black Friday a bust this year?

US retail sales on Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year, climbed 4.1% compared with last year, according to data released Saturday by Mastercard SpendingPulse. Online shoppers alone spent $11.8 billion, up 9.1% from 2024, according to data collection platform Adobe Analytics.

Is Black Friday a British thing?

While the tradition first started in the United States, in more recent years, it has been widely adopted by many shops in the UK, both physical and online. It was in the 2010s that several American-owned retailers, like Amazon, Argos and Asda, began to offer Black Friday promotions here in the UK.

Was Black Friday 2025 a success?

Black Friday still delivered the highest in-store traffic of any day in 2025, proving its continued relevance as the anchor of the holiday shopping season. "Black Friday 2025 didn't kill the holiday; it changed how shoppers approached it," notes Joe Shasteen, Global Head of Advanced Analytics at RetailNext.

Why is it called black on Black Friday?

Many people believe “Black Friday” got the name because it is when retail stores get out of the red and into the black. But the name “Black Friday” actually came to prominence because of a logistical nightmare caused by the annual Army vs. Navy football game in Philadelphia during the 1960's.

Do things actually get cheaper on Black Friday?

93% of products are cheaper or the same price at other times. Similar findings to John Lewis, indicating the vast majority of their Black Friday sale items could be found for the same or a lower price elsewhere in the year. 88% of products are cheaper or the same price at other times.

What caused Black Friday 1869?

The financiers' attempt to control the gold market failed when the U.S. government released $4 million in gold on Friday, September 24, 1869, known as Black Friday. The resulting panic severely disrupted the U.S. national economy. In 1869, the first year of Ulysses S.

What is the true story behind Black Friday?

According to The History Channel, Philadelphia police referred to the day after Thanksgiving as “Black Friday” because “hordes of suburban shoppers and tourists flooded into the city in advance of the big Army-Navy football game held on that Saturday every year.” Cops were required to work that day to deal with traffic ...

Who introduced Black Friday to the UK?

It wasn't until 2010 that the Black Friday shopping phenomenon arrived in the UK. Unsurprisingly it was Amazon that introduced the Black Friday sales to this country and that first sale was so popular that customers complained that items sold out too quickly and the traffic volumes actually crashed the Amazon website.

Why is it called Black Friday?

A more accurate explanation of the term dates back to the early 1960s, when police officers in Philadelphia began using the phrase “Black Friday” to describe the chaos that resulted when large numbers of suburban tourists came into the city to begin their holiday shopping and, in some years, attend Saturday's annual ...

What is the biggest sale of the year in the UK?

The biggest sales events in the UK are Black Friday/Cyber Monday (late November), offering massive discounts across tech, fashion, and home goods, followed closely by the post-Christmas Boxing Day sales, a traditional peak for deep discounts on everything from electronics to fashion. Other major sales include the Summer Sales (June/July) and January Sales, plus back-to-school deals in August/September. 

Is Black Friday sale only 1 day?

No, Black Friday is no longer just one day; while it's traditionally the Friday after Thanksgiving, sales now often start in early November and extend through the whole month, the Black Friday weekend, and culminate on Cyber Monday, creating a prolonged sales event. Many retailers offer deals for weeks, turning it into a "Black Friday Week" or even a month-long period to manage crowds and capture early shoppers. 

Why are people boycotting Black Friday?

The We Ain't Buying It campaign – organized by many of the groups behind the No Kings protests – is asking Americans to stop shopping at Target, Home Depot and Amazon on Black Friday, one of the busiest retail days of the year, while also encouraging people to shop local and support community businesses.

What's the worst month for retail?

January and February are typically considered the slowest months for retail as consumers recover from holiday spending and focus on post-holiday savings. According to statistics, e-commerce sales experienced a significant decline during the summer months, with a drop of up to 30% compared to the high sales of December.

Was 95% of Black Friday financed?

Black Friday data shows 95% of sales were financed ($11.2 billion). And $1 billion of that was Buy-Now-Pay-Later which is the worst debt.

Why is everyone doing Black Friday early?

Starting early gets customers out of the market early

The biggest reason brands are launching early? It's simple: To beat the competition to your wallet. Shoppers only have so much money to spend. If a brand can lock in your dollars by mid-November, that's one less person comparing prices on actual Black Friday.

What is the downside of Black Friday?

One of the things people dislike the most about Black Friday is the huge crowds of people all vying for the same items. Some people wait outside in the cold just to save a few dollars. The biggest con of all may be the increasing trend of violence during Black Friday events in recent years.

Is Boxing Day better than Black Friday?

Neither Black Friday nor Boxing Day is universally better; Black Friday often offers superior deals on tech and electronics, while Boxing Day excels for fashion and post-holiday clearance on items left over, though both events now overlap with competing offers, making it crucial to track prices for specific items. Black Friday is better for early Christmas shopping and high-demand electronics, whereas Boxing Day provides steeper discounts on a broader range of goods, especially apparel, for post-holiday self-purchasing.