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Black Friday 2025: Online Shopping Surges as Cautious Consumers Skip Store Lines

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Black Friday 2025 saw a major shift in shopping behaviour as Americans increasingly chose to shop online rather than line up outside stores in the cold. According to Adobe Analytics, shoppers spent $8.6 billion online by early Friday, with total Black Friday online sales expected to reach nearly $12 billion. The traditional rush outside malls and electronics stores faded, replaced by mid-morning online buying spikes and evening surges. Many shoppers who did venture out said they were more budget-conscious due to a softening labour market and lingering inflation.

Deep discounts and extended online promotions have blurred the boundaries between Black Friday and the rest of Cyber Week. Retailers are spreading deals across multiple days, making online platforms the top hub for bargain hunting. Cyber Monday is expected to set a new record with an estimated $14.2 billion in online spending. At the same time, higher prices driven by inflation and tariff impacts have made shoppers more selective. Data from Salesforce shows average selling prices in the U.S. rising faster than the global average, partly due to tariffs and retailers protecting their margins.

Despite cautious spending, affluent consumers continue to drive strong sales in luxury and high-end categories. Meanwhile, the usual early-morning crowds were noticeably thinner at stores like Walmart and Target, with some offering freebies to draw foot traffic. Labour unrest also shaped the day, with strikes at Amazon warehouses in Germany, protests in Spain, and expanded Starbucks walkouts in the U.S. Overall, Black Friday 2025 reflected a retail landscape where online shopping dominates, consumer behaviour shifts, and economic uncertainty plays a growing role.

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France Nears First Food Trade Deficit in Nearly 50 Years Amid Export Pressures

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France is on the verge of recording its first annual food and agricultural trade deficit in almost five decades, driven by new foreign tariffs on wine exports and soaring global prices for cocoa and coffee. The country, long considered an agri-food export powerhouse thanks to the EU’s largest farming base, has seen its competitiveness steadily erode amid intensifying global and intra-EU competition. The decline has fueled strong opposition among farmers toward trade agreements like the proposed pact with the Mercosur bloc.

Customs data from the French Agriculture Ministry shows a cumulative deficit of 351 million euros for January to September 2025, following last year’s sharp surplus drop to its lowest level since the 1980s. Despite a significantly stronger harvest this year boosting cereal exports, the sector still posted a trade deficit in September. Analysts warn that temporary challenges, including tariffs from the U.S. and China and a spike in import costs for cocoa and coffee, are only part of the picture.

Industry leaders say deeper structural issues—such as high production costs, regulatory burdens, and slower global marketing efforts compared to competitors like Spain and Italy—have further weakened France’s trade position. As France grapples with these pressures, agricultural organisations argue for urgent reforms to revive competitiveness and rebuild the country’s historic strength in global food trade.

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VW to invest up to $5bn in Tesla rival Rivian

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Volkswagen (VW), the German automotive giant, has announced an investment of up to $5 billion (£3.94 billion) in Rivian, a competitor to Tesla. This partnership forms a joint venture allowing both VW and the US-based electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer to share technology. Following the announcement, Rivian’s stock surged nearly 50%.

The collaboration comes amid increasing competition among EV manufacturers and the imposition of tariffs on Chinese imports by Western nations. VW will start with an initial $1 billion investment in Rivian, with an additional $4 billion planned by 2026.

Founded in 2009, Rivian has yet to achieve a quarterly profit, reporting a net loss of over $1.4 billion in the first quarter of 2024. VW, facing pressure from competitors like Tesla and China’s BYD, is working to transition from fossil fuel-powered vehicles to EVs.

The partnership provides VW with immediate access to Rivian’s software, which it can integrate into its vehicles. The deal also comes as Chinese EV manufacturers expand globally, increasing competition. The European Union (EU) recently announced plans to raise tariffs on Chinese EV imports by up to 38%, following an investigation that found Chinese EV companies had been unfairly subsidized. China criticized these tariffs as violating international trade rules and labeled the investigation as protectionist.

The tariff increase by the EU follows the United States’ decision to raise import duties on Chinese EVs from 25% to 100%. Canada is also considering similar measures to align with its allies.

Separately, Tesla announced a recall of over 11,000 Cybertrucks sold in the US due to issues with windscreen wipers and exterior trim. The Cybertrucks were first released at the end of November last year.

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