It’s Super Saturday! ‘Christmas ‘Eve eve’ is set to be 2023’s second-busiest shopping day as 142 MILLION bargain-hunters hit the stores and malls on to snap up last minute purchases

Shoppers across America are getting into the Christmas spirit as the last Saturday before the big day is set to be the second busiest shopping day of the year.

Known each year as 'Super Saturday', businesses expect more than 142 million customers to come out as they frantically search for a last-minute gift.

While the last Saturday before Christmas is usually packed, bargain hunters can expect it to be even bigger this year as 'Super Saturday' also falls on December 23 for the first time since 2017.

Despite weathering a year of skyrocketing inflation, an estimated 16 million more Americans are shopping for Christmas gifts today than the last time it happened on “Christmas Eve Eve” six years ago, according to the National Retail Federation.

The last Saturday before Christmas has not fallen on December 23 since 2017, this year's busy day out estimated to have 16 million more shoppers than six years ago

With Super Saturday – also known as 'Panic Saturday' – falling so close to Christmas this year, many consumers are planning to purchase their last-minute gifts in person rather than online.

About 37 percent of Super Saturday shoppers, about 53 million people, expect to do their last shopping exclusively in stores this year, compared to just 28 percent last year, the NRF found.

But after the 2022 edition fell a full eight days before Christmas Day, more than 158 million Americans flooded the high streets and shopping centers at this time last year in search of the perfect gift.

Although more than 15 million fewer people are expected this year, it is still expected to be the second busiest shopping day of the year – beaten only by Black Friday.

“Shoppers have the luxury of a full weekend leading up to the holiday to secure those last-minute gifts, which drives traffic and transactions,” said Joe Shasteen, global manager of advanced analytics at RetailNext. Axios.

Thanks to this useful combination of factors that drive shoppers out, only 22 percent of Super Saturday shoppers plan to purchase exclusively online.

“This year, Super Saturday is really aimed at last-minute shoppers,” said Phil Rist, Executive Vice President of Strategy for Prosper Insights & Analytics.

“A majority of consumers also plan to buy their last gift in the week before Christmas.”

For those who didn't leave their loved ones' gifts so late, by early December, Christmas shoppers said they had picked up half (49 percent) of the items on their list.

But because so many people find it difficult to buy for their family members, 36 percent of those with half of their list left said they were still deciding what to buy.

Black Friday was the busiest shopping day of the year as nearly 200 million shoppers searched for deals, but the NRF found that many avoided buying their Christmas gifts early, expecting better deals to be available during the holiday season.

Asked over the Thanksgiving weekend, 85 percent of shoppers said they also avoided festive gifts, opting to wait for a bargain.

Department stores will see the most non-online customers at 38 percent, compared to 28 percent of consumers who choose discount stores, 26 percent for clothing stores and 19 percent for supermarkets.

Earlier this month, it was also discovered that American families plan to spend an average of $975 on Christmas gifts this year. Households with children spend an average of $1,306, while households without children spend $835.

Earlier this month, it was also discovered that American families plan to spend an average of $975 on Christmas gifts this year. Households with children spend an average of $1,306, while households without children spend $835

Shoppers are seen at stores in Indianapolis, Indiana, preparing to make last-minute purchases for Christmas Day. Officials say they expect Saturday to be the second busiest shopping day of the year, behind Black Friday

Among those who have already made a purchase, clothes came out on top at 50 percent, while toys came in second at 34 percent.

Holiday sales are expected to continue after the 25th as 70 percent of consumers say they plan to shop the following week to make the most of holiday deals and use gift cards.

Sixteen percent of people also said they expect to go shopping the following week because they will be exchanging or returning unwanted holiday items.

According to the NRF, retail inventory this year is expected to grow between 3 and 4 percent compared to 2022 figures, reaching a total of $966 billion.

In 2022 this amounted to 929 billion dollars.

The NRF says its survey asked 7,973 adult consumers about their holiday shopping plans. It was conducted from December 1 to 6 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.1 percentage points.