COSTA MESA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 17, 2025--
Holiday shoppers are decking the halls with digital help this year, as artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as an ally in navigating seasonal spending. According to a national consumer survey from Experian®, AI tools are making the holiday shopping process easier, more enjoyable, and potentially more budget-friendly with 58 percent of survey respondents who have used AI reporting a significant impact on the way they plan and shop for the holiday season.
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AI is the new holiday helper
From budgeting to planning, AI is playing a meaningful role in how consumers shop for the holidays. Nearly 2 in 3 consumers surveyed (63%) are open to AI working as their holiday elf and making their holiday shopping process jollier. When it comes to what they need the most assistance with, consumers say they are most interested in using AI to find the best prices (40%) and spot deals or sales (38%).
While adoption is still growing, those who use AI tools are seeing real benefits. Gen Z leads the way in usage, with 18 percent saying they’ve used AI to help plan or shop for the holidays, nearly double the rate of the general population (10%). Among those who’ve used AI tools to help plan or shop for the holidays, 86 percent say it makes holiday shopping easier, and 76 percent say it makes it more enjoyable.
Consumers alleviate financial pressure with proactive planning
While the holiday season is meant to be a time of joy, expenses and obligations can place pressure on consumers’ finances. In fact, over half (52%) of consumers feel stressed about their finances during the season, and 69 percent of consumers say inflation will affect their holiday shopping this year.
However, consumers are making sure they get on the financial nice list. Over half (56%) said they will set aside money for gifts, tighten their budgets (45%), assess their credit cards to pick the best ones for shopping (25%), and improve their credit score (22%) to prepare their finances for holiday shopping. Among Gen Z specifically, 87 percent are motivated to improve their finances for the holiday buying frenzy.
“The holidays are often filled with joy, but they can also bring financial stress that lingers well into the new year,” said Rod Griffin, senior director of Consumer Education and Advocacy at Experian. “That’s why it’s so important for consumers to turn to trusted resources that support their entire financial journey, from managing holiday budgets to building long-term financial health. With the right tools, including AI, consumers can feel more confident and in control.”
Before the year comes to an end, consumers can take advantage of a few simple strategies to keep their finances on track:
Experian is here for consumers to lean on during the holiday season and beyond like a Big Financial Friend. For more information on how Experian can be your BFF, visit www.Experian.com.
About Experian
Experian is a global data and technology company, powering opportunities for people and businesses around the world. We help to redefine lending practices, uncover and prevent fraud, simplify healthcare, deliver digital marketing solutions, and gain deeper insights into the automotive market, all using our unique combination of data, analytics and software. We also assist millions of people to realise their financial goals and help them to save time and money.
We operate across a range of markets, from financial services to healthcare, automotive, agrifinance, insurance, and many more industry segments.
We invest in talented people and new advanced technologies to unlock the power of data and to innovate. A FTSE 100 Index company listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN), we have a team of 25,100 people across 32 countries. Our corporate headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland. Learn more at experianplc.com.
Experian’s annual shopping survey finds some holiday shoppers are embracing tech to tackle seasonal spending.
