CMB News Of The Day 📰📰🗞️

“Major retailers are rolling out early sales events in October, aiming to capture shoppers’ attention and spending power before the high-stakes holiday season kicks into full swing”🚨🚨

Christmas may still be months away, but the holiday shopping rush is starting early as major retailers launch October sales events to win over budget-conscious consumers.

• Amazon (AMZN $219.38, -0.38%) is hosting Prime Big Deal Days on October 7–8, a shorter event than July’s Prime Day but aimed at pulling spending forward before Black Friday.

• Walmart (WMT $102.64, -0.09%) will give Walmart+ members early access on October 6, followed by a five-day sale from October 7–12 with discounts across toys, fashion, and electronics.

• Target (TGT $87.54, -0.87%) is bringing back Circle Week from October 5–11, with Circle 360 members getting early access on October 4, offering deals on home goods, apparel, toys, and electronics.

Consumer surveys show shoppers are tightening their wallets: PwC projects average holiday spending of $1,552 per person, down 5.3% from last year — the first drop since 2020. Seasonal hiring is also expected to hit its lowest level since 2009, as retailers brace for softer demand. Still, early shopping is on the rise, with half of consumers planning to start before Halloween.

Convenience is the other battleground. Walmart is expanding next-day delivery and pushing buy now, pay later; Amazon is leaning on AI-driven recommendations and same-day hubs; and Target is banking on curbside pickup, in-store pickup, and deeper discounts. Across the board, retailers are using AI to fine-tune inventory, cut costs, and speed up shipping — crucial, as 62% of shoppers say faster delivery is the biggest factor in their buying decisions this year.