GoKawiilCNET Survey: Holiday Tech Shoppers Plan to Spend $808, Down $123 From 2024
CNET's annual holiday shopping survey found that 73% of holiday shoppers intend to buy tech products or services this season, budgeting an average of $808 — $123 less than last year. The survey also found 32% of respondents plan to start shopping before November, 27% plan to wait for sales, and 84% expect frustrations such as misleading discounts, quick sellouts and inflated baseline prices.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The tighter budgets come as CNET's commerce team reports tech prices have been climbing since mid-2025, partly tied to a RAM shortage, meaning shoppers may get less for their money even amid heavy discounting. Consumers appear to be responding by shopping earlier and shifting spending toward non-tech categories like toys and kitchen items, which could pressure retailers to front-load promotions such as Amazon's and Walmart's early October sales.
- 73% of US holiday shoppers plan to buy tech, averaging $808 in spending — $123 less than last year
- 84% of shoppers anticipate frustrations like misleading discounts, sellouts and inflated baseline prices
- Nearly a third of shoppers plan to begin holiday shopping before November amid rising tech costs
Source: cnet.com — Dashia Milden, 2026-09-29
Published there as: “US Adults Have Tighter Holiday Shopping Budgets Amid Rising Tech Costs, CNET Finds”
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