Amazon's Prime Day Boosts Record Online Sales as Competitors Follow Suit

Shoppers spent $7.2 billion online during Amazon's Prime Day's first day in the U.S., with major retailers like Walmart and Target launching competing events. Back-to-school spending surged by 210%, and Adobe Analytics noted an 11.7% rise in total online sales. Amazon offered early deals, with an average order spend of $60.03.

Shoppers spent about $7.2 billion online across retailers during the first day of Amazon's Prime Day in the United States, according to a report from Adobe Analytics on Wednesday.

Major retailers including Walmart and Target launched deals and shopping events through July aiming to attract customers with deep discounts to compete with the Amazon sales event. Amazon managed to capture market share from other retailers as customers took advantage of sizable discounts, some with the option for same- or one-day delivery.

Back-to-school spending saw a significant uptick, rising 210% on Tuesday compared to daily sales levels in June 2024, according to Adobe Analytics. Data revealed that total online sales rose 11.7% on July 16. In 2023, shoppers spent $12.7 billion online over the two-day Prime Day event.

This year, Amazon offered early access to deals even before the two-day event began, moving some demand forward. During the first 32 hours of the Prime Day event, the average spend per order for Amazon was $60.03, compared to $56.64 in 2023, according to the data firm Numerator.

Adobe, which relies on direct-to-consumer transactions based on more than 1 trillion visits to U.S. retail websites, indicated that shoppers will find significant deals on Wednesday, with discounts averaging around 23% for electronics, 20% for apparel and 15% for toys.

(With inputs from agencies.)