Nearly 63 million Americans shopped in-store on Small Business Saturday alone

A record-breaking number of people turned out to shop this Thanksgiving, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), which helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship as the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government

The organization “highlighted record-breaking consumer engagement over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.”

“… Strong evidence that confidence in the U.S. economy, which is anchored by small businesses, is returning under President Trump’s pro-growth economic agenda. According to new data released by the National Retail Federation (NRF), nearly 203 million Americans shopped between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday – the highest number ever recorded,” according to the SBA.

Nearly 63 million Americans shopped in-store on Small Business Saturday alone – a 2.6% increase over 2024.

“With record engagement this past weekend, and record spending projected throughout the holiday season, consumers are sending a clear signal that they are confident in the America First economy,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “Households are participating at historic rates thanks to lower prices and higher wages – while Main Street is responding to that demand with plans to expand, hire, and invest in the new year. This data confirms what many entrepreneurs are telling us: momentum is building, optimism is rising, and President Trump’s economic agenda is working.”

According to data from the SBA, nearly 130 million consumers shopped in-store over the five-day weekend, up 3% from 2024.

More numbers from the long weekend:

136 million consumers shopped online, up 9% from last year.

Small Business Saturday alone drew 62.7 million in-store customers, up from 61.1 million in 2024 “as more Americans engaged to support Main Street entrepreneurs.”

“NRF also projects spending will surpass $1 trillion for the first time ever this Christmas season, with expected growth between 3.7% and 4.2% over 2024 – reinforcing expectations that small businesses will end 2025 on strong footing,” according to the SBA.

The SBA says that almost three-fourths of small-business owners expect higher revenues next year.

“A majority plan to expand operations, underscoring renewed confidence on Main Street,” according to SBA.

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, small business optimism reached an all-time high in September, and the National Federation of Independent Business’ monthly survey for November shows small business confidence above its 52-year average.

“The momentum is fueling historic capital demand at the SBA, where small businesses are taking on loans at record rates to fund small business formation and expansion in 2026. In Fiscal Year 2025, SBA approved $45 billion in loans for 85,000 small businesses – the most loans ever approved in the history of the agency,” according to the SBA.

For more information, visit www.sba.gov.

Image by freepik.

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