{"id":67606,"date":"2025-06-19T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=67606"},"modified":"2025-07-31T12:52:58","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T02:52:58","slug":"holiday-predictions-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/au\/blog\/holiday-predictions-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Consumer Optimism Will Turn a Corner Ahead of the Holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Shoppers kicked off the first half of 2025 with the same energy as they did in 2024 \u2013 cautious, calculated, and weary of looming economic challenges. The first quarter\u2019s sales results reflected this mindset. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online sales were essentially flat as consumers continued to wait out price and economic volatility. According to research by Salesforce, 51% of shoppers reported that they\u2019re currently prioritising essentials and 49% are pulling back on splurge purchases, a trend reported in 2024 and continuing into the new year.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The question on everyone\u2019s mind: Is this a sign of the holiday season to come? Early Salesforce data indicates that consumers may be turning a corner. Thirty-four percent of global consumers reported that they are feeling optimistic about the current state of the economy \u2014 that\u2019s a 22% increase over April 2024. When it comes to personal finances, 27% more consumers reported that their financial situations were improving over the last six months. Another exciting trend we\u2019re seeing shift is where consumers are spending their disposable income. For the past 12 months consumers have ranked savings and investments as the top place they were parking their money. But now that\u2019s changed. Consumers are now saying that they\u2019re back to prioritising spending their disposable incomes on physical goods, followed by savings, with experiences last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Despite these positive signs, consumers are still cautious. One in three shoppers still report that they\u2019re buying less over the past six months, and 66% of all shoppers say that \u2014 regardless of whether they\u2019re buying more, less, or the same \u2014 they\u2019re trading down for lower priced goods. Nonetheless, that\u2019s a 22% decrease from 2024 in the rate of consumers reporting that they\u2019re making tradedowns. Additionally, the rate of consumers reporting that they\u2019re now buying more grew by 54% over 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is more good news, though. In this era of economic uncertainty, there is also incredible opportunity for consumers and retailers alike, thanks to AI. From generative AI services going mainstream back in 2023 to AI agents today, the way consumers interact with the internet and the way that retailers operate is changing very rapidly. All of this new change is ushering in a new wave of how brands and consumers interact with each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what does holiday 2025 look like<\/a> in a time of increasing economic pressure, rapidly changing consumer optimism, and artificial intelligence?<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Our 2025 holiday shopping predictions:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n