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.
