Highest search volumes were for pet goods and luxury items with increases of 468% and 257% respectively year over year, according to AI search pioneer Algolia’s retail data

Algolia, the world's only end-to-end AI Search and Discovery solution, revealed that Search activity related to online holiday shopping rose by 20% year-over-year (YoY), reaching 29.5 billion search queries during this year’s Black Friday to Cyber Monday period*, up from 24.5 billion last year.

Similar to previous years, some retailers kicked off their seasonal promotions a week earlier than usual to outpace competitors ahead of Black Friday, driving unprecedented search activity. Algolia recorded a historic surge on its platform, reaching more than an 80% increase YoY with 185,000 queries per second (QPS) on Thursday, November 21—exactly one week before Black Friday—significantly surpassing the 102,000 QPS observed on Black Friday itself. Notably, in all cases, Algolia AI Search ensured 99.999+% availability throughout bursts of traffic and this peak retail period.

Consumer interest in luxury goods grew significantly as Algolia observed a 257% YoY increase in search queries. Other standout categories included pet foods and accessories, which experienced a skyrocketing increase of 468% YoY, while food and beverage grew by 41%. The biggest losers included the gaming sector with a drop of 52% over last year and health and wellness goods, which were down 12% against last year’s search queries.

Bernadette Nixon, Chief Executive Officer of Algolia said: “As the Black Friday shopping frenzy peaked, the importance of search in delivering a seamless and successful shopping experience has never been greater. Search serves 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 Cyber Monday weekend ever.”

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 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 stems from several factors. U.S. consumer confidence reaching a nine-month high combined with the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts could boost holiday spending. Still, higher search volumes don’t always equate to increased sales.

An Algolia survey of 1,000 U.S. adults revealed that 61% are concerned about inflation this holiday season. Additionally, 22% list the shortened shopping window between Thanksgiving and Christmas as a major stressor, and 21% are worried about supply chain disruptions—figures that climb to 33% and 24%, respectively, for Millennials. It’s likely that many Black Friday to Cyber Monday weekend searches were consumers who browsed online retailers’ websites to gauge deals and plan purchases, ensuring availability for when they have sufficient funds and are ready to buy.

Nixon noted: “It’s essential for retailers to recognize that many consumers thoroughly research a product multiple times before committing to a purchase and some may spread out gift buying. As a result, a significant portion of the searches observed between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday likely came from shoppers planning to buy closer to the holidays. Retailers that continue to enhance the shopping experience after Cyber Weekend—by boosting popular, in-stock items and personalizing deals, ads, recommendations, and search results—will capture the delayed wave of purchases from these careful, research-driven consumers.”

Importantly, relevance is what makes search results useful and impactful. On Black Friday, customers aren’t just browsing—they’re searching with intent, often looking for very specific products or deals. Algolia enables retailers to deliver accurate, personalized, and contextually relevant results ensuring shoppers find exactly what they need, driving satisfaction and loyalty.

Algolia AI Search is more than a convenience—it’s a revenue-generating powerhouse. Retailers leveraging a well-optimized, tried-and-tested search experience boost conversions, and increase the average order value by surfacing complementary products, bundles, and promotions. It’s the engine behind turning traffic into tangible sales during the most critical shopping period of the year.

Nixon added: “These factors—speed, scalability, and relevance—directly influence conversions. A smooth, intuitive search experience keeps customers engaged and increases the likelihood of them making a purchase. Every second saved and every relevant result displayed translates into more completed transactions. And, of course, all of this drives revenue.”

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 a leading provider of AI search solutions, serving over 17,000 businesses and 500,000 developers globally. Renowned for its user-friendly API-First platform and the fastest AI search technology, Algolia is the largest hosted search engine, trusted by businesses and developers for 1.75 trillion searches per year. Backed by a decade of innovation, expertise, and growth, Algolia continuously redefines the search landscape with its commitment to user-friendly solutions, significant scalability, and unmatched speed. Learn more: www.algolia.com

*The Black Friday to Cyber Monday period ran from 12:00 AM on Friday, November 29, in Australia to 12:00 AM on Monday, December 2, in San Francisco.

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