Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year in the US, is just days away. Traditionally marking the start of the holiday shopping season, it follows Thanksgiving and sees millions of Americans head to stores or shop online. Retailers rely heavily on this period to bolster annual profits, with experts predicting as many as 187 million shoppers between Thursday and Monday—three million more than last year. Categories such as toys and jewellery remain critical for retailers during this time, while events like Cyber Monday extend sales into the following week. This year, however, concerns over inflation, rising healthcare costs, and recession fears are altering consumer behaviour. Many Americans are expected to prioritise necessities over large purchases, while trade tariffs and fluctuating economic policies add to uncertainties. Despite these challenges, analysts suggest the economy remains relatively stable. Credit card spending is likely to increase, leaving some consumers with debt as they strive to bring joy to friends and family. Al Jazeera’s Phil Lavelle reports from St Petersburg, Florida. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile #UnitedStates #BlackFriday #USeconomy #BlackFriday2025 #USInflation #HolidayShopping #RetailNews #ConsumerSpending #CostOfLiving #CyberMonday #RetailTrends #AlJazeeraEnglish