Americans' Big-Spending Habits Return During Amazon's Extended Prime Day Sale

During Prime Day, Americans spent $24.1 billion online, with many buying expensive items like appliances. Amazon stretched its promotion to four days, resulting in "record" sales. Shoppers also started back-to-school shopping early, with backpacks and calculators being popular items. Despite consumers' reluctance to make big purchases, strong discounts during Prime Day drove many to "trade up" to higher-ticket items.

Title: Prime Day 2025: Record Sales and Early Back-to-School Shopping

Prime Day 2025 wrapped up with record-breaking sales, according to preliminary data. Americans spent a staggering $24.1 billion online during the four-day event, extending Amazon's promotion beyond the traditional two-day period [1]. This marked a significant increase from previous years, with shoppers taking advantage of substantial discounts on a wide array of products, including high-ticket items like appliances and electronics.

Amazon's Prime Day 2025 stretched from July 9 to July 12, 2025, offering millions of deals across over 35 categories. The event saw a notable shift in consumer behavior, with many shoppers starting their back-to-school shopping early. Backpacks and calculators were among the most popular items, reflecting the early preparation for the upcoming academic year.

Despite initial reluctance from consumers to make large purchases, the strong discounts during Prime Day encouraged many to upgrade to higher-ticket items. This trend was evident in the tech category, where deals on smart TVs, tablets, and headphones drove significant sales. For instance, a 65-inch Samsung smart TV was available at a 34% discount, while an Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet was offered at 50% off [1].

The event also saw robust participation from independent sellers, with over 60% of sales coming from small and medium-sized businesses. Amazon highlighted this by encouraging customers to shop from these sellers, who offered numerous last-minute deals [1].

Prime Day 2025 not only set new sales records but also underscored the growing influence of online shopping events on consumer behavior. As retailers continue to innovate and extend their promotional periods, consumers are increasingly likely to make significant purchases during these events, driven by the promise of substantial savings.

References

[1] Amazon. (2025). Prime Day 2025: Deals and Savings. Retrieved from [https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/prime-day-2025-deals](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/prime-day-2025-deals)