Many online and omnichannel retailers, as well as industry pundits, thought the 2023 holiday season would be hampered by inflation-induced price increases, supply chain challenges, geopolitical issues and general economic uncertainty -- but the data tells a different story.
According to our post-holiday e-commerce shopper survey, the 2023 holiday season proved to be a shining star for digital commerce.
Results at a Glance
Total holiday retail sales went up 3.1 percent, according to MasterCard’s SpendingPulse Report
In-store sales grew a modest 2.2 percent, while online sales increased 6.3 percent (excluding automobiles)
More consumers shopped online this year, and 210 of the 1,000 respondents did ALL of their holiday shopping online
In addition to more online shopping, 58 percent of online buyers said they spent more this year than last
Retailer selection was driven by price (including free shipping and free returns) and convenience
Shoppers’ resource-guzzling practice of bracketed purchasing declined, but so did their overall concerns about sustainability
52 percent of online buyers returned at least one item
Shoppers may be more accepting of returns-related fees; however, 31 percent indicated they would no longer buy from a retailer that charged for returns
When making a return, 72 percent of shoppers received their refund or credit in 3 days or less
For additional details and purchasing insights, download Inmar’s 2023 POST-HOLIDAY E-COMMERCE SHOPPER REPORT.
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