Black Friday (2021) Apr 2026

Out-of-stock messages were 124% higher than pre-pandemic levels. Fear of shortages drove shoppers to buy earlier in the month rather than waiting for the "big day".

In a shift from "midnight sprees," US sales peaked between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM as consumers opted to sleep in. 3. Top Performing Product Categories Black Friday (2021)

Use of BNPL services skyrocketed, with revenue in November up 422% compared to 2019. Black Friday (2021)

Smartphones accounted for 44% of online sales , an 11% increase YoY. Black Friday (2021)

In some regions, the average spend per transaction rose only marginally (e.g., from R535 to R545 in South Africa), indicating consumers were buying more items but remaining conservative on price.