AI might be dominating industry conversations heading into the 2025 shopping season, but SurveyMonkey research tells a different story. While many holiday shopping predictions state AI-powered gift-giving will define this year’s holiday shopping trends, most consumers simply aren’t there yet—only a small fragment of consumers use AI to guide their gift-giving.
For marketing teams, retailers, and CX pros, this disconnect represents an opportunity. The biggest festive wins this year won’t come from technology but from understanding real-world consumer concerns, frustrations, and habits around the holidays.
We surveyed 1,679 American adults to uncover the most prominent 2025 holiday shopping trends. Explore the findings to learn how your business can stay in line with consumer expectations and deliver standout customer experiences during the most competitive shopping period of the year.
8 holiday shopping trends shaping spending in 2025
#1 Overcrowded stores are the leading holiday shopping frustration
Which frustration quickly spoils the holiday cheer? For 44% of Americans, overcrowding is the leading trigger that turns them into a holiday grinch. But that frustration isn’t evenly distributed across age groups.
Gen X experiences overcrowding more intensely than any other age group, with 51% saying it ruins their holiday mood. Gen Z, on the other hand, is the least bothered, with only 39% worrying about in-store chaos.
Other frustrations trail closely behind overcrowding. For 40% of Americans, not knowing what gifts to buy is a major holiday hurdle, while 27% believe shipping delays are their biggest worry.
#2 Budget remains a major concern
In the SurveyMonkey 2024 holiday trends survey, 69% of shoppers were worried about their ability to buy the items they want. Financial strain still plays a role in holiday stress this year, ranking as a top-three holiday stressor for many consumers.
Women overwhelmingly feel the financial strain of the holiday period, with 34% worrying about blowing their budget against 23% of men. The 11 percentage point difference between these groups highlights how budgeting and economic strain represent a heavier load for women during this festive season.
#3 Boomers are uniquely overwhelmed by gift decisions
Everyone feels pressure to get their loved ones exactly the right gift. But for Boomers, this strain has become a leading problem around the holiday period. About 48% of Boomers say that knowing what gift to buy is one of the triggers most likely to turn them into a holiday grinch.
Of all the festive frustration, Boomers feel gift anxiety the most intensely. Their gift-giving worries stand out when compared to other age groups:
- 43% of Gen Z struggle with gift giving
- 35% of Gen X find gift selection challenging
- 33% of Millennials think that not knowing what gifts to buy is a concern
Despite their gift-giving worries, 77% of Boomers are likely to pretend to like a gift they receive, even if they dislike it.
#4 Consumer behavior: Rise of the vibe-based holiday shopper
Holiday shopping consumer behavior has become more fluid in 2025, with flexible approaches being more common than planning ahead. This year, 35% of Americans identified as vibe shoppers—someone who buys presents whenever inspiration strikes. Instead of setting time aside to plan and buy, shoppers are increasingly waiting to see a product that grabs their attention.
A smaller group, 31% of shoppers, prefer the tried-and-tested approach of preparing early and finishing early. Especially for the 27% of consumers who worry about shipping times, getting their shopping out of the way early is a great way to reduce holiday anxiety.
Meanwhile, 22% of shoppers admit that the holidays are the last thing on their mind, waiting until the last minute to buy presents. Last-minute shoppers tend to be younger, with 26% of them falling into the Gen Z and Millennial categories. In comparison, only 17% of Boomer and Silent Generation shoppers are still wrapping gifts on the way out the door.
#5 Presents often miss the mark, but shoppers believe it’s the thought that counts
For the 40% of consumers who worry about not getting the right gift for someone, you may want to skip over this one. An overwhelming 74% of Americans have received a gift they disliked—demonstrating that the consumer worry may actually have some grounding.
Despite frequent gifting mishaps, 87% of Americans agree that it’s the thought that counts more than the gift itself. Only 10% of consumers report that not getting the gift they want would sour their holiday mood. The positive gift-receiving sentiment is especially prominent among women, with 91% believing that the emotional value of giving the gift is what matters. A smaller, but still prominent, 83% of men share that same view.
These findings highlight a key tension in the holiday period. People desperately want to give the perfect gift, but they also deeply value the emotional meaning behind the act of giving.
#6 Partners come out on top as the best gift givers
When it comes to gift-giving, partners reign supreme. Nearly half, or 45%, of Americans say that their partner is the person in their life who's most likely to give a gift they love. On the other end of the spectrum, coworkers rank firmly at the bottom of the giving hierarchy, with only 3% claiming a coworker is their top gift giver.
But perceptions vary by gender. Men overwhelmingly choose partners as their top gift giver, with 52% saying their significant other is likely to give them a gift they love. For women, on the other hand, the title is much more contested:
- 38% say their partner gives the best gifts
- 34% believe their parents or siblings do
- 22% see their friends as the best gift givers
The difference becomes even more notable when compared to the male figures: only 43% of men name someone other than their partner as the best gift giver, while 58% of women do. Men tend to receive the best gifts from a partner, while women are more likely to see excellent gifts from across their social circles.
#7 AI has failed to break into the gift-giving process
Despite 44% of holiday shoppers struggling to find the right gift, AI has yet to become a meaningful part of festive decision-making. An overwhelming 85% of Americans aren’t using AI for the gift-selecting process this year.
While there is interest in using AI to generate gift ideas, with 44% saying they might consider using it in the future, a nearly identical 41% absolutely would not. Even for Gen Z, with high anxiety rates around finding the right gift, AI adoption is only at 19%. Actual usage has a steady drop-off across the generations, with 15% of Millennials, 12% of Gen X, and 8% of Boomers using AI for gift planning in 2025.
Back in 2024, despite rising use of artificial intelligence, 55% of consumers had no interest in AI gadgets and 69% thought they were overrated. For many shoppers, AI still can’t provide the personal and emotional recommendations they need for great gift giving.
#8 Young people struggle most with holiday perfection
Young shoppers are feeling the holiday pressure more intensely than any other age group—both in what they give and what they receive. Not getting the right gift is twice as likely to create holiday stress for young adults than older generations:
- 14% of 18-24 year olds say receiving the wrong gift would turn them into a holiday grinch
- Only 7% of over-65 shoppers feel the same way
The SurveyMonkey survey also reveals 18-24 year olds are the group most likely to be overwhelmed by holiday logistics, with 37% saying shipping worries can sour the mood. Despite these fears, younger generations are also much more likely to leave things to the last minute, with 26% of Gen Z identifying as last-minute shoppers. In comparison, only 17% of Baby Boomer and Silent Generation shoppers wait till the last minute.
To make matters worse, the younger generation is also the least likely to believe that it’s the thought that counts. Ninety-one percent of people 65 years and older are more likely to say thought matters more compared to 85% of 18-34 year olds.
For the younger generation, this holiday period is shaping up to be a season of emotional, logistical, and social pressure.
How marketers, retailers, and CX pros can dispel the grinches this holiday season and beyond
#1 Reduce friction across every customer touchpoint
SurveyMonkey holiday shopping statistics demonstrate that 44% of shoppers feel frustrated by overcrowding, with younger consumers being highly sensitive to shipping delays. With that in mind, the best gift you can give to your customers this festive period is simplicity. Streamline in-store flows, improve delivery to guarantee on-time arrivals, and make the customer journey as painless as possible.
Lean into narratives that show you’re reducing points of friction—from smoother aisle navigation to easier order tracking. Small improvements across the customer journey will turn disgruntled shoppers into satisfied, loyal customers.
#2 Prioritize transparent systems and cost-effective bundles
Budget pressures remain a top holiday stressor for nearly 30% of all Americans. With cost-of-living concerns on people’s minds, shoppers want clarity and control over their spending. Provide upfront pricing, highlight any savings clearly, and bundle together top products to make budgeting even easier.
This year’s holiday messaging should revolve around transparency, affordability, and savings.
#3 Solve “what do I buy” crisis with guided product recommendations
With 40% of shoppers worried about picking the wrong gift, curated guidance shouldn’t be an afterthought. Soothe customer doubts with gift product recommendations, tailored top picks, and themed product bundles.
By simplifying the decision-making process, your brand will become a go-to holiday resource.
#4 Capture the vibe shopper’s attention with short-form content
Shopping timelines are working a little differently this year, with 35% of American consumers self-identifying as vibe-based shoppers. Meet them where inspiration strikes by prioritizing TikTok, Reels, and Stories with fast, scroll-stopping product content.
By frequently spotlighting trending products, weekly top sellers, or micro strategies, you can help meet these spontaneous shoppers exactly where they are.
#5 Be prepared for returns this holiday season
Since 74% of consumers have received a gift they didn’t love, businesses should prioritize making the returns process as low stress as possible. Provide clear return policies and make product exchanges hassle-free to keep your customer satisfaction as high as possible.
A transparent and flexible process builds loyalty and helps the festive season run smoothly—even when a gift doesn’t quite meet the mark.
Conclusion
Across tight budgets, gifting anxiety, and the rise of vibe-based purchasing, the 2025 holiday season has a range of new trends to explore. But by leading with transparency, reducing friction at every touchpoint, and delivering a seamless shopping experience, brands can keep the festive spirit high this December.
With a clear understanding of the 2025 holiday shopping trends, retailers and CX teams can better adapt to consumer expectations and capture seasonal demand. By building upon SurveyMonkey insights, businesses can anticipate what shoppers need most, refine their holiday strategies, and build long-term loyalty.
Discover exactly what your customers are looking for this holiday season with an expertly crafted survey. Get started in minutes with a customizable template or create a survey in seconds with AI to turn consumer insights into action.
Methodology: This SurveyMonkey study was conducted on November 4, 2025, among a sample of 1,679 US adults ages 18+. Respondents for this survey were selected from a non-probability online panel. The modeled error estimate for this survey is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. Data have been weighted for age, race, sex, education, and geography using the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to reflect the overall demographic composition of the United States.
