Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Economic Watch: Estimated 164 Million Hitting Stores Thanksgiving Weekend

The biggest shopping weekend of the year is right around the corner, and two out of every three Americans are planning to shop or considering shopping during Thanksgiving weekend, according to a new report. And that means a lot of freight moving by trucks.

Evan Lockridge
Evan LockridgeFormer Business Contributing Editor
November 14, 2017
Economic Watch: Estimated 164 Million Hitting Stores Thanksgiving Weekend

 

2 min to read


The biggest shopping weekend of the year is right around the corner, and two out of every three Americans are planning to shop or considering shopping during Thanksgiving weekend, according to a new report. And that means a lot of freight moving by trucks.

The annual survey by the retail industry group the National Retail Federation and consumer data firm Prosper Insights & Analytics this year for the first time includes Cyber Monday (the Monday following Thanksgiving) in addition to Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) and Small Business Saturday and Sunday (the weekend following Thanksgiving).

Ad Loading...

“This year, we updated our survey to more accurately capture consumer behavior throughout the entire shopping weekend,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “Consumers will benefit from competitive promotions both in stores and online lasting the course of the weekend, allowing them to find the best gifts at the lowest prices.”

Of the estimated 164 million people considering shopping over the long holiday weekend, the survey found that 20% plan to shop on Thanksgiving Day, but Black Friday will remain the busiest day with 70% planning to shop then. A substantial 71 million are expected to shop on Saturday, with 76% saying they will do so specifically to support Small Business Saturday. On Sunday, 35 million are expected to shop, while and 48% are expected to shop on Cyber Monday.

According to the survey, 56% of Americans have already started their holiday shopping, but most still have a long way to go. Only 12% of consumers have completed at least half of their shopping, while only 2% have finished all of their holiday shopping.

Ad Loading...

“By now, people know what sort of deals they can expect to see during the weekend and are budgeting for them accordingly, and in many cases expertly,” said Prosper Principal Analyst Pam Goodfellow.

While many consumers will take advantage of deals over Thanksgiving weekend, 31% will refrain from shopping that weekend. Of those not planning to participate, 52% won’t shop because they do not enjoy the experience and 51% say they never shop during Thanksgiving weekend. Of those not shopping, 46% said nothing would change their mind, but 27% said a good sale or discount on an item they want could get them to shop. 

The survey, which asked 7,439 consumers about their shopping plans, was conducted Oct. 31-Nov. 7 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.2 percentage points.

More Fleet Management

A woman holding a tablet with a screen showing rectangles of various colors
SponsoredSeptember 16, 2026

Color Match Smarter: Tools That Restore & Perform

For fleet managers and collision repair professionals keeping heavy-duty trucks on the road, getting the color right the first time isn't just about appearance — it's about efficiency, turnaround time, and bottom-line results. Discover how today's digital color tools are transforming the repair process from guesswork to precision.

Read More →
Mobile tablet showing Motus screen against highway background with Motus logo
Fleet Managementby StaffSeptember 15, 2026

FMCSA Pauses Biennial-Update Enforcement Amid Motus Transition

Carriers whose updates were due on or after June 1 have more time, while FMCSA works to stabilize its new registration system and warns of phishing sites impersonating its new carrier registration system, Motus.

Read More →
Geotab Whitepaper Cargo Theft Cover
SponsoredSeptember 14, 2026

2026 Blueprint for Countering Smarter Supply Chain Theft

Cargo theft is no longer just the cost of doing business. It's a multi-billion-dollar criminal enterprise exploiting vulnerabilities across your fleet, drivers, and supply chain.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A monitor with a bar graph with a person sitting next to it wearing a headset.
SponsoredSeptember 1, 2026

How Telematics Improves Visibility, Control, and Performance in Refrigerated Fleets

Explore how telematics help refrigerated fleets improve visibility, uptime, efficiency, compliance, and cargo protection across connected cold chain operations.

Read More →
Graphic with U.S. and Canadian flags over background illustration of an ink-stamp that says Tariffs.
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeAugust 24, 2026

What the U.S.-Canada Trade War Means for Trucking

Escalating U.S.-Canada tariffs could disrupt cross-border freight, reduce truck volumes, raise costs, and create new uncertainty for carriers on both sides of the border.

Read More →
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseAugust 24, 2026

What Are Trucking’s Top Concerns for 2026?

The American Transportation Research Institute wants to know what's worrying trucking fleet managers, drivers, and other stakeholders in its annual Industry Issues survey.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Four men in suits on the National Mall with giant video screen showing capitol building in the background
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 24, 2026

American Trucking Associations Looks for a New Leader

ATA President and CEO Chris Spear abruptly left his job at the association on August 21, at a pivotal time for the trucking industry.

Read More →
The Cyber Stop column header with photo of a smiling driver in truck with a laptop and a wi-fi icon
Fleet ManagementAugust 21, 2026

Public Wi-Fi Cybersecurity Risks: How Truck Drivers and Fleets Can Protect Their Data

Public Wi-Fi can expose truck drivers and fleets to credential theft, malware, and other cyber threats. Here’s how to reduce the risk on the road.

Read More →
Woman in white blazer superimposed on background showing a row of Fraley & Schilling truck, plus the HDT Truck Fleet Innovators 2026 logo
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 19, 2026

For Nicky Cupp, Fleet Innovation Starts With Frustration

HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Nicky Cupp turns everyday pain points at Fraley & Schilling into opportunities for better technology and smarter processes.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Headshot of Adam Buttgenbach with a Pepsi-branded Tesla Semi in the background
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 18, 2026

Adam Buttgenbach’s Approach to Electric Trucks: Start With Where They Fit

HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Adam Buttgenbach helped PepsiCo build one of North America’s largest EV fleets by focusing on where electric trucks make operational sense.

Read More →