Australians are set to spend a record $6.8 billion over the Black Friday-Cyber Monday weekend, according to research from the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) in partnership with Roy Morgan. About 6 million Australians are expected to participate, spending an average of $804 each. Women make up 3.5 million of this group, while men account for 2.5 million.
ARA chief industry officer Fleur Brown said November has become the new December for Christmas purchases, driven by Black Friday activity. Despite a cost-of-living crisis, recent interest rate cuts have boosted optimism. Popular categories include clothing, toys, books, and household items.
Deloitte reports that 44% of Australian retailers are expected to participate in Black Friday this year, up 3% from 2024. Black Friday falls on Friday, 28 November 2025, and Cyber Monday on December 1, 2025, though many retailers have already started advertising promotions.
Warwick Hall, store manager at JB Hi-Fi in Melbourne's Chadstone Shopping Centre, said shoppers are planning and researching ahead, arriving with a clear idea of what they want and their budget. Many are buying for themselves, such as turntables, vinyl, or new TVs.
The Westpac-Melbourne Institute survey showed consumer sentiment surged 12.8% in November, marking the first net-positive reading in nearly four years. However, sentiment dipped 0.3% among mortgage holders. Shopify's James Johnson noted that many Australians are using AI for product discovery and finding offers, and hybrid shopping is growing, with 38% planning to split purchases evenly online and in-store.
