Business
Shoppers are focusing on quality, not deals, in the final days before Christmas
While discounts drove purchasing in the early days of the holiday shopping season, consumers are shifting into more thoughtful, quality gifts in the back half of the season as total spending growth slows.
U.S. consumers had spent $187.3 billion so far online between Nov. 1 and Dec. 12, up 6.1% from the same stretch last year, according to Adobe Analytics. Total holiday season e-commerce spend is still expected to cross $253 billion, which would be 5.3% above last year, with the growth rate slowing later into December as delivery in time for Christmas gets tighter.
E-commerce sales typically “slow sharply” from about Dec. 16 to Dec. 18, and then “decline rapidly” in the ensuing days, until Christmas Eve is the slowest shopping day of the season, Casey Armstrong, chief marketing officer for ShipBob, told CNBC. Armstrong said shopping picks up again on Dec. 27, which is typically the strongest day for ShipBob’s customers late in the season. The company is a third-party logistics firm that ships for small, medium and social-oriented brands.
A shopper carries packages in Union Square in San Francisco, Dec. 11, 2025.
David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images
For shoppers who are willing to order online in the back half of the season, quality, rather than discounts, is driving interest.
Captify analyzes more than 1 billion search events per day from 3 million websites, and it shows outsize search growth in apparel and athleisure brands including Alo Yoga, Warby Parker, Aritzia, Bombas and Quince into December compared to earlier in the season. Searches for Alo Yoga rose 256% for the period between Dec. 7 and Dec. 15 compared to the stretch from Nov. 28 to Dec. 6. Quince searches are up 124% for those same time frames.
“These gains point to a rise in thoughtful, quality-driven gifting as shoppers seek products from highly regarded brands” said Oscar Chow, Captify head of insights for the U.S.
RetailNext, which tracks in-store shopping, has also seen evidence of consumers valuing quality this season, even if that means buying fewer items.
“Consumers are willing to pay more to get those decisions right” said Joe Shasteen, global manager of advanced analytics at RetailNext. The firm expects this dynamic to peak in the days leading up to Christmas.
There is also evidence showing a shift toward gifting experiences and subscriptions as the season winds down. Chow said they offer shoppers a “deadline-proof gift.”
Examples include growth in interest in the later weeks of the season for Roblox Robux, Cameo Kids, Kindle Unlimited, Strava Subscription, Peloton All-Access, MasterClass subscriptions and the Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max subscription bundle.
Discounts are still available as holiday shopping winds down, but they’re much lower than during Cyber Week highs. Adobe Analytics said toys will see the biggest promotions, peaking at 15% off list price in December, followed by furniture, bedding and televisions at 10% off.
To be sure, there are discount-motivated consumers throughout the season, which makes toys a strong category. Data from Adobe and Captify show consumers are still seeking out Mattel’s Barbie Dreamhouse, Disney’s Stitch toys, and Play-Doh sets, among others. Armstrong said the Toniebox 2 audio player and the Ms. Rachel Tonies figurine is “a top item driving buzz”.
Stores save Christmas
A woman holds shopping bags as people make their way through Herald Square on Dec. 11, 2025 in New York City.
Angela Weiss | AFP | Getty Images
For those that want a physical gift to give, stores are critical in the days leading up to Christmas.
The last Saturday before Christmas has been coined “Super Saturday” by the retail sector and is often one of the top store shopping days of the year. But with Christmas landing on a Thursday this year, the volume will likely be lower on Super Saturday this year than on Dec. 22 through Dec. 24, according to RetailNext.
“We expect some of the highest conversion rates of the season to occur in the final days before Christmas, potentially rivaling or even surpassing Black Friday,” Shasteen of RetailNext said.
The warmer temperatures and dry conditions hitting much of the country this weekend should also help lift store traffic this weekend, according to Evan Gold, Planalytics executive vice president of global partnerships and alliances.
Shoppers who don’t want to navigate stores, but also don’t want to chance shipping timelines, are increasingly using buy online, pick up in store options in the final stretch of the holiday shopping season. Adobe Analytics predicts BOPIS will peak on Dec. 22 and Dec. 23, with 32% to 37% of e-commerce orders utilizing the service, a spike in typical usage from the rest of the year.
Kohl’s told CNBC its pickup orders more than double in the week leading up to Christmas and that a quarter of shoppers who pickup an online order end up buying something else while they are there.
At Bath and Body Works, about 30% of customers picking up online orders add something before checkout.
It’s also a cost savings for retailers to fulfill online orders from stores. Target has said order pickup or drive-up saves the retailer 90% over brown-box delivery from fulfillment centers. So far this season, three-quarters of its digital orders have been picked up from stores.
Walmart told CNBC last year that weekly scheduled pickup volume increased 14% in the two weeks leading up to Christmas compared to the average volume in the prior 12 weeks. More than 80% of Walmart customers say they shop in-store in the three days before Christmas, according to its customer insights and strategy holiday pulse tracker conducted this month.
Last December, volumes of Walmart Express Delivery, orders fulfilled from store inventory that come with an extra fee, reached 2.5 times the monthly average. The retailer said on Christmas Eve alone, 77% of digital orders were fulfilled via the express option.
While Dick’s Sporting Goods declined to share specifics, the retailer said it sees a “significant uptick in BOPIS” as Christmas nears, and it also sees an “attach rate” for shoppers “to make sure they grab those last-minute gifts on a single trip to the store.”
Business
Noida International Airport inauguration: Delhi-NCR gets new airport – all you need to know – The Times of India
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated Phase I of the Noida International Airport at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh, marking a significant milestone in India’s expanding aviation infrastructure.PM Modi was accompanied by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel.
Developed at an investment of around Rs 11,200 crore under a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model, the project is expected to enhance both regional and international connectivity for the National Capital Region (NCR).The airport is being positioned as a key addition to India’s aviation network, aimed at easing pressure on existing infrastructure while supporting the country’s ambition of becoming a global aviation hub.
Second international gateway for Delhi NCR
Noida International Airport has been developed as the second international gateway for Delhi NCR, complementing the existing Indira Gandhi International Airport, which currently handles the majority of the region’s air traffic.
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With rising passenger demand and capacity constraints at IGI Airport, the new facility is expected to play a crucial role in distributing traffic more efficiently.Together, the two airports will function as an integrated aviation system, helping reduce congestion, improve connectivity, and enhance the region’s standing among leading global aviation hubs.
Phase I capacity and future expansion plans
Phase I of the airport is designed to handle 12 million passengers per annum (MPPA), providing immediate relief to the region’s growing air travel demand.The project has been planned with scalability in mind, with provisions to expand capacity to 70 million passengers annually in subsequent phases. This long-term vision reflects the government’s strategy to future-proof infrastructure and accommodate sustained growth in air travel.
Modern infrastructure and all-weather operations
The airport features a 3,900-metre runway capable of handling wide-body aircraft, making it suitable for both domestic and international long-haul operations.
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Equipped with advanced navigation systems such as the Instrument Landing System (ILS) and modern airfield lighting, the facility is designed to support efficient, all-weather, round-the-clock operations. These features ensure operational reliability even under challenging weather conditions.
Cargo hub and logistics ecosystem
In addition to passenger services, the airport includes a comprehensive cargo ecosystem aimed at strengthening logistics and trade.The Multi-Modal Cargo Hub comprises an Integrated Cargo Terminal and dedicated logistics zones, with an initial handling capacity of over 2.5 lakh metric tonnes annually. This capacity is expected to expand significantly to around 18 lakh metric tonnes in the future, positioning the airport as a major cargo and logistics centre in North India.
Dedicated MRO facility to enhance efficiency
A key component of the airport’s infrastructure is a 40-acre Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility.This dedicated facility is expected to improve operational efficiency by enabling airlines to service and maintain aircraft locally, reducing turnaround times and operational costs. It also strengthens India’s capabilities in aviation maintenance services.
Sustainability and future-ready design
Noida International Airport has been designed as a sustainable and future-ready infrastructure project, with a focus on achieving net-zero emissions.The project incorporates energy-efficient systems and environmentally responsible practices, aligning with India’s broader climate goals. The airport’s development reflects a growing emphasis on green infrastructure in large-scale projects.
Architecture inspired by Indian heritage
Blending modern infrastructure with cultural aesthetics, the airport’s architectural design draws inspiration from traditional Indian elements such as ghats and havelis.This approach aims to create a distinctive identity for the airport while offering passengers a sense of place rooted in Indian heritage.
Strategic location and multi-modal connectivity
Strategically located along the Yamuna Expressway in Gautam Buddha Nagar district, the airport is planned as a multi-modal transport hub.It will feature seamless integration with road, rail, metro and regional transit systems, ensuring smooth connectivity for passengers and cargo. This connectivity is expected to significantly improve accessibility for travellers across Delhi NCR and neighbouring regions.
Boost to India’s aviation ambitions
The inauguration of Phase I of Noida International Airport is being seen as a major step in strengthening India’s aviation ecosystem.By expanding capacity, improving connectivity, and integrating modern infrastructure with sustainability, the project is expected to play a key role in positioning Delhi NCR as a major global aviation hub while supporting economic growth and regional development
Business
Iran permits 2 Pakistani cargo ships to pass through Strait of Hormuz | The Express Tribune
Iran has permitted two Pakistani cargo ships to transit through the Strait of Hormuz, sources in the Ministry of Maritime Affairs confirmed on Saturday.
The vessels, Multan and P-Akili, which were previously held after Iranian forces took control of the strait — a key global oil supply route — have now crossed and are en route to Karachi. They are expected to dock at Karachi port on March 31, a source familiar with the matter said.
Multan is a general cargo ship, while P-Akili is carrying over 80 million litres of crude oil. Sources added that Iranian authorities not only allowed the vessels to pass but also provided an escort until they cleared the strait’s flashpoint line.
Read: Global poll says Iran war leaves US increasingly isolated internationally
This move comes amid ongoing mediation efforts by Islamabad, in coordination with Turkiye and Egypt, to curb the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
It is the second time Tehran has permitted a Pakistani ship to pass through the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began on February 28. Previously, a Pakistani oil tanker transited the strait on March 16.
The Middle East region remains on high alert following the joint US-Israel offensive on Iran that began on February 28, which has resulted in over 1,900 deaths, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruption to global markets and aviation.
Business
Why supermarket prices really became sky high in the UK
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