Highest search volumes were for Pet Products, Apparel & Fashion and Health & Wellness, with increases of 81%, 51% and 41% respectively year-over-year, according to AI Search market leader Algolia’s retail data
Algolia, the AI Retrieval Platform orchestrating over 1.75 trillion queries each year, trusted by more than 18,000 businesses, and used by millions of developers around the world, today reported a powerful surge in online holiday shopping activity, with search volumes climbing 13% year-over-year (YoY) during the Black Friday to Cyber Monday window. Shoppers generated an extraordinary 33.5 billion search queries over the long weekend—up from 29.5 billion last year.
Momentum was strong throughout the entire season as well: in November, search activity skyrocketed 61.1% YoY, reaching 184 billion queries. Across all of this explosive growth, Algolia AI Search delivered greater than 99.999% availability, even during the heaviest traffic spikes of the year.
As in past seasons, many retailers launched promotions earlier to capture demand ahead of Black Friday, fueling unprecedented search activity. Algolia saw load intensify sharply, hitting 118,374 queries per second (QPS) one week before Black Friday—nearly matching the 119,680 QPS peak recorded on Black Friday itself, a 17% YoY increase. In total, shoppers drove 9.3 billion search queries on Black Friday alone, representing a remarkable 40% increase YoY.
Bernadette Nixon, Chief Executive Officer, Algolia, said: “As the Black Friday shopping frenzy peaked, the importance of search and retrieval in delivering a seamless and successful shopping experience has never been greater. These capabilities serve as the gateway for customers to connect with retailers as they explore, get inspired, and ultimately find those great deals. We’re happy to have done our part to support all our customers in what’s reportedly the biggest Black Friday to Cyber Monday weekend ever.”
This Black Friday and Cyber Monday period told a very different story about what consumers truly value and where their dollars are headed. According to search data across Algolia’s platform, shoppers leaned hard into practicality, comfort, and personal well-being, driving a surge in several categories. Apparel and Fashion jumped 51%, signaling a return to wardrobe refreshes and seasonal upgrades. Health and Wellness climbed 41%, reflecting a growing focus on self-care, performance, and everyday balance. Even Home Goods rose 16%, suggesting consumers are still investing in their spaces, though at a steadier pace than last year.
But the biggest surprise? Pets. Searches for Pet Products and Accessories skyrocketed 81%, making furry family members the undisputed winners of Cyber Weekend. Consumers may be tightening budgets, but not when it comes to treating their four-legged favorites.
Nixon noted: “Taken together, the data reveals a market recalibrating: consumers aren’t pulling back, they’re simply choosing differently. They’re prioritizing value, longevity, wellness, and the things (and pets) that bring daily joy.”
The one category that stumbled was Luxury Goods, down 49% after a huge spike the year before. This sharp correction suggests shoppers are shifting away from high-end splurges in favor of more functional or emotionally meaningful purchases.
With limited-time deals driving urgency, customers expect their search results to load instantly. Any delay—no matter how small—can lead to frustration and lost sales. Speed is essential during the Black Friday to Cyber Monday period and is central to how Algolia supports its retail customers. By delivering a blazing fast search and retrieval experience, retailers can ensure that shoppers stay engaged and can act quickly in securing the deals they want.
The YoY rise in Black Friday to Cyber Monday period search activity aligns with consumer intent uncovered via an Algolia survey of 1,000 U.S. adults, conducted in early November. This study found that 54% of Americans planned to shop more during this year’s Black Friday to Cyber Monday than in previous years. The top motivators cited were financial pressures, compelling pre-event discount ads, and the growing ease of online shopping.
How they are shopping this holiday season is also shifting as AI earns more consumer trust. Nearly half say they’re using tools like Perplexity and ChatGPT to read product reviews and comparisons (48%), track down the best prices or cheaper alternatives (46%), and get inspiration for experience-based gifts (39%).
Still, only 23% say they’re willing to purchase directly within these tools, though that may change quickly as more GenAI platforms roll out built-in shopping and transaction features.
Nixon noted: “With more shoppers active this Cyber Weekend and a rising reliance on AI for inspiration, retailers are seeing an even bigger GenAI-driven surge than they did during this year's Prime Day. It’s a clear signal that retailers need to ensure their website infrastructure is ready for the agentic era. One standout insight from our survey is that 72% of consumers say ethical AI use will influence where they choose to shop in the future. Retailers that adopt a responsible AI playbook now will be well positioned for future Black Fridays, and for success year-round.”
Relevance is the backbone of meaningful search, and it becomes mission-critical on Black Friday, when shoppers arrive with intent and expect instant, precise answers. In a world where generative and agentic AI are reshaping discovery, Algolia empowers retailers to deliver search results that are not just accurate, but personalized, context-aware, and aligned with what customers truly mean. The result: shoppers quickly find exactly what they’re looking for, fueling satisfaction, confidence, and long-term loyalty.
Algolia AI Search isn’t just a convenience layer, it’s a revenue engine. With generative and agentic intelligence guiding retrieval, retailers can boost conversions and increase average order value by dynamically surfacing complementary products, bundles, and timely promotions. It transforms traffic into measurable sales at exactly when it matters most during the highest-stakes shopping period of the year.
Nixon added: “Speed, scalability, and relevance become even more powerful when amplified by generative and agentic AI. A smooth, intuitive search experience keeps shoppers engaged, guides them toward the right products, and dramatically increases the likelihood of conversion. Every second saved and every contextually accurate result served turns hesitation into action—and action into revenue. It’s a direct line from intelligent search to measurable business impact.”
To learn more about Algolia’s end-to-end AI search solutions and find out how its breakthrough technology helps retailers thrive during high peak shopping seasons, visit algolia.com/industries/ecommerce/.
About Algolia
Algolia is an AI Retrieval platform, powering over 1.75 trillion searches a year for more than 18,000 businesses and millions of developers worldwide. Built on a developer-first, API-first foundation, Algolia combines keyword, vector, and hybrid retrieval with powerful rules, personalization, and analytics to deliver the world’s fastest, most scalable AI search and discovery technology.
Backed by more than a decade of innovation, Algolia is redefining how businesses and builders create agentic, retrieval-powered experiences—from Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to LLM-based applications through its MCP server and next-generation tools like Ask AI and Agent Studio. With unmatched speed, trust, and simplicity, Algolia is shaping the future of intelligent discovery and AI agents.
* The Black Friday to Cyber Monday period ran from 12:00 AM on Friday, November 28, in Australia to 12:00 AM on Monday, December 2, in San Francisco.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251203833822/en/
Contacts
Media
Audrey Surette
PAN for Algolia
algolia@pancomm.com