2025 Holiday spending predictions: What to expect this season

How much shoppers are expected to spend in 2025

Holiday spending in 2025 is projected to grow, but not dramatically, led largely by continued e-commerce strength. Shopify’s retail insights note that shoppers are relying more heavily on digital channels for both browsing and buying, even when final purchases happen in-store. Their research shows holiday shoppers increasingly using online channels to compare features, check availability, and validate product details before committing. 

While shoppers will still spend, they are becoming more intentional. Apimio reports that 82 percent of online shoppers consider detailed product descriptions and attributes essential when deciding what to buy. This signals a season where total sales continue to grow, but conversion depends heavily on product clarity, trust, and content quality.

What is shaping consumer behavior this season

Consumer behavior in 2025 reflects a more researched, value-focused shopper. The following forces are shaping how people browse, evaluate, and ultimately decide what to buy this holiday season.

Value and cost awareness take priority

Economic sentiment is mixed. Baymard Institute’s product page research shows that only 49 percent of major e-commerce sites deliver a “decent” product page experience, leaving significant room for improvement in content quality.  

As shoppers compare more options across channels, they rely on product information to remove uncertainty and reduce risk. This trend is echoed in our marketer’s guide to sharing product content instantly, where real-time access to complete, consistent content significantly improves buyer confidence.  

When shoppers cannot find the details they need, uncertainty grows, and conversion drops. This reinforces a behavior that has been building for several seasons: shoppers want value, clarity, and confidence in what they buy. 

Even when total spend rises, the mindset behind that spend is conservative. Consumers are weighing alternatives, checking more product details, and comparing sources across channels. Strong product content becomes a direct lever in helping shoppers make faster, lower-risk decisions.

Shopping starts earlier and spreads across more channels

Holiday shopping is no longer confined to November and December. In the Optimove Consumer Holiday Report, 53 percent of respondents plan to split purchases between online and in-store, while 31 percent expect to shop exclusively online. Earlier buying cycles and multi-channel journeys demand:

• stronger content consistency
• earlier readiness
• faster updates across every endpoint

This is where modern syndication becomes critical. For teams still managing channel delivery manually, our resource on reasons to upgrade your syndication strategy highlights how out-of-sync feeds create friction during the most important part of the year.

Generational differences influence where money goes

Younger shoppers—particularly Gen Z—continue to rebalance their budgets toward essentials, self-purchases, and lifestyle upgrades. Older shoppers are more likely to maintain traditional gift spending but expect high-quality product details to support faster decisions. 

This widening generational gap requires product content that can speak to different motivations, from value to quality to multi-use versatility. 

Three trends every brand should plan around

Three clear patterns will define Holiday 2025 and influence how product information shapes conversion and customer trust.

Trend 1: Value messages will drive conversion

Shoppers want clearer reasons to choose one product over another. Transparent pricing, comparison-friendly product details, strong imagery, and use-case clarity will all play a larger role as consumers make more cautious decisions.  

Shopify reports that enhanced product visuals, including multi-angle, 3D, or high-quality imagery—can increase conversion by up to 94 percent. Product content that communicates value directly will win attention faster. 

Trend 2: Channel agility becomes make-or-break

With more shoppers moving between mobile, marketplace, and retail channels, the pressure to maintain consistent, accurate content increases. Teams need to be able to update attributes, assets, and variations quickly to keep up with early promotions and rolling campaigns that extend across the season. 

Trend 3: Experiences and self-spend keep reshaping categories

Gift purchases still dominate the holiday season, but self-spend and lifestyle upgrades continue to rise. This expands how products must be positioned, styled, and presented. Content that highlights everyday usage, not just holiday relevance, will resonate more strongly across audiences.

A guide for brands preparing for Holiday 2025

These actions reflect what digital commerce teams can implement immediately to move faster and support value-driven shoppers.

1. Review your product content for clarity and completeness

Shoppers want confidence. Ensure product descriptions answer core questions quickly and accurately, imagery reflects real expectations, and key differentiators are easy to spot.

2. Prepare for early demand and shifting promotions

Promotional calendars are starting earlier and evolving quickly. Product data and assets must be ready for changes across channels without slowing down publishing cycles.

3. Adapt messaging for audience and segment behavior

Different age groups and income levels will approach this season differently. Tailor content to match how each group evaluates purchases, whether they prioritize savings, convenience, or quality.

4. Strengthen cross-channel consistency

Whether a customer shops through mobile, marketplace, or retail partners, the product experience should look and feel unified. Inconsistent content erodes trust and introduces hesitation.

5. Monitor changing behavior throughout the season

Holiday 2025 may shift quickly as external factors evolve. Use real-time data on browsing patterns, best-performing attributes, or fast-moving categories to adjust content and keep listings competitive.

Conclusion

Holiday 2025 will reward brands that can adapt quickly, communicate value clearly, and maintain consistent product experiences across every channel. Shoppers are researching more, comparing more, and expecting complete information at the moment of decision. The teams that succeed this season will be those who can keep product data accurate, update content without friction, and respond to shifting demand with confidence. 

For many organizations, that starts with strengthening the way they manage and deliver product information. A modern, connected PIM solution helps ensure every channel gets the clarity and consistency today’s shoppers expect, especially during high-stakes periods like the holidays. If your team is preparing for the season ahead, now is the time to invest in the foundation that keeps product experiences fast, accurate, and ready for every destination.