Holidays & Seasonal Trends

Placer.ai analysis reveals a two-speed economy heading into 2026: E-commerce fulfillment traffic surged 6.6% in November, outpacing a 3.5% decline in manufacturing activity.

Candle Day’s performance in 2025 highlights how value-driven promotions and strong brand loyalty can sustain discretionary spending even in a cautious consumer climate.

Black Friday 2025 foot traffic trends show a holiday season defined by value-driven decisions, regional price sensitivity, and shifts toward budget-conscious categories. Longer in-store visits and standout gains for convenient, low-ticket coffee chains highlight shoppers’ deliberate, mission-focused approach to spending.

Holiday dining patterns highlight upscale and fine-dining restaurants as the strongest seasonal performers, with coffee, casual dining, and eatertainment showing targeted lifts. Emerging YoY trends point to premium full-service concepts leading demand again this December.

Thanksgiving brought a healthy rise in movie theater traffic while still trailing 2024’s exceptional highs. The gap points to a growing reality in the theatrical space: In 2025, audiences show up strongest when franchises – and preferably, multiple franchises at once – lead the way.

Turkey Wednesday 2025 drove major traffic to grocery stores, with traditional supermarkets seeing the biggest visit spikes, while value chains led early-week shopping. Dwell times showed a shift from early stock-up trips to quick last-minute runs, and all analyzed major grocers posted year-over-year visit growth.

Despite weakened consumer sentiment, Dollar Tree and Dollar General continue to post strong visit and sales growth. Both chains are capitalizing on shoppers’ focus on value, with consistent quarterly gains and October momentum signaling sustained strength into the holidays.

Starbucks’ 2025 Red Cup Day drew higher visits than both the Bearista launch and previous years. Placer.ai data shows visits jumped 44.5% above average as customers lined up for limited-edition cups and holiday drinks – proving that buzz, exclusivity, and timing continue to drive Starbucks’ seasonal success.