Confirmed: The Discounts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday Were Worse This Year
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If you were hoping to check some gifts off your list on Black Friday or Cyber Monday and were disappointed by the deals — or lack thereof — you’re not alone. By most accounts, the discounts have been significantly smaller during this year's holiday shopping season.
According to Adobe Analytics, computers were discounted at an average of 15% on Black Friday this year — roughly half of the 28% discount levels on Black Friday 2020. Sporting goods were another category with weaker discounts; the average markdown was 9% on Black Friday 2021, compared to 18% the previous year.
Deals on TVs, long a Black Friday staple, didn’t measure up either. Last year, there were some incredibly cheap deals, like a TCL 55" 4K Roku smart TV for just $148 at Walmart. There was no deal comparable to that one this time around, and TV prices are up across the board. Stephen Baker, technology industry advisor for NPD Group, previously told Money that for TVs, "holiday pricing overall is likely to be at least $100 above normal” thanks to a global chip shortage and changing consumer habits during the pandemic.
