Black Friday is going to the dogs.
A growing number of shoppers are taking advantage of deep discounts this holiday season to scoop up everyday items like dog and cat food, detergent, socks and underwear — and not luxury items — as consumers fret about job security and the rising cost of living, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.
More than six in 10 shoppers recently said they planned to buy the bare necessities instead of fancier items during sales, according to consultancy Deloitte. Last year, 58% of survey respondents said the same thing.
Flagstaff, Ariz.-resident Eilise Fisher reportedly plans to stock up on 40-pound bags of Purina kibble for her rescue dogs.
In years past, the government worker shopped for a new TV or a high-end Dutch oven, she told Bloomberg.
“We’re seeing a strong early surge in sales this Black Friday and Cyber Monday season,” Dan Schaefer, CEO of dog supplement company Native Pet, told The Post. “Pet parents are stocking up on supplements.”
Consumers like Fisher are jittery about their finances as a growing number of companies announce layoffs and inflation rages across the country, experts say. Shifts in President Trump’s tariff policy have added to the uncertainty, experts said.
So, customers are using the Mecca of shopping days to restock on essentials or give practical presents like gift cards instead of splashing out.
Those who plan to shop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday expect to spend an average of $622 – roughly 4% less than last year — according to a Deloitte survey of 1,200 US consumers.
“The uncertainty around tariffs has gotten so out of hand that we can expect people to stock up on coffee and electronics in particular,” Wallet Hub analyst Chip Lupo told The Post.
As a taste of things to come on Black Friday, Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray was highlighted as a bestseller during Amazon Prime’s sale this summer.
“It’s hard to not feel like things are less affordable,” Megan Hamand, a San Diego, Calif.-based financial auditor, told Bloomberg.
She said her husband is getting a decidedly boring but practical gift for the holidays: an external hard drive.
For herself, she’s stocking up on basic beauty products she uses year-round like $40 Bobbi Brown mascara and $28 Coola sunscreen.
High-income households account for a greater share of consumer spending than in years past. The richest 10% of Americans did nearly half of all such spending in the second quarter of the year, Bloomberg reported, citing a Moody’s Analytics analysis.
“More consumers are showing budget consciousness and choosiness in how they spend, which means more necessities over discretionary [items],” KPMG economist Diane Swonk told the outlet.
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