Nearly 200 Million Shoppers Expected to Hit Stores Thanksgiving Weekend

A survey finds 70 percent of those shoppers plan to take advantage of Black Friday discounts.A boy looks at holiday decorations in New York City on Nov. 15, 2024. Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times11/23/2025|Updated: 11/23/2025Retail experts predict 187 million people will shop from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, based on a consumer survey released Nov. 20.The survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights and Analytics showed this year’s prediction topping last year’s, when 183.4 million people were expected. Federation data from December 2024 show a robust 197 million actually turned out.Jill McLaughlin is an award-winning journalist covering politics, environment, and statewide issues. She has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Oregon, Nevada, and New Mexico. Jill was born in Yosemite National Park and enjoys the majestic outdoors, traveling, golfing, and hiking.Author’s Selected Articles