(Bloomberg)—A report 196.7 million American customers flocked to shops and e-commerce web sites over the Thanksgiving vacation weekend in quest of offers, in keeping with knowledge from the Nationwide Retail Federation.

Retailers discounted generously on Black Friday and Cyber Monday this 12 months in an effort to clear extra stock and lure customers who’re more and more strained by inflation. These efforts drove foot site visitors up: about 123 million clients shopped between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday, a 17% enhance from a 12 months in the past, the NRF mentioned Tuesday.

The variety of e-commerce buyers rose by a extra modest 2% from 2021, pointing to a “resurgence of in-store buying,” following the final two years of pandemic restrictions, mentioned NRF President and Chief Government Officer Matt Shay.

Whole common spend per buyer was $325, up 8% from a 12 months in the past however under the prepandemic stage of $362, in keeping with the NRF. The outcomes are primarily based on a client survey of about 3,300 US members.

“It’s been clear that American households and households have turn into a bit extra cautious with their spending,” Shay mentioned on a convention name. “Retailers have responded accordingly, providing buyers a season of shopping for comfort, matching gross sales and promotions throughout on-line and in-store channels to accommodate their clients at every interplay.”

The overwhelming majority of buyers, about 90%, mentioned offers had been both the identical or higher than final 12 months, in keeping with the survey. Clothes, toys and present playing cards had been the highest items bought over Thanksgiving weekend, whereas the most well-liked buying locations had been on-line, malls and grocery shops.

Greater than half of customers surveyed mentioned they nonetheless had vacation buying left to do, “leaving loads of room for extra purchases within the remaining weeks of the 12 months,” mentioned Phil Rist, government vice chairman of Prosper Insights & Analytics, which helped conduct the survey with the NRF. Ongoing reductions will probably help a few of that spending into December.

Regardless of inflation and financial issues, “you will get customers engaged, however it’s a must to ship on worth and value,” Shay mentioned.

–With help from Martine Paris.

© 2022 Bloomberg L.P.