Nevada Enters 2025 Holiday Season as Nation’s #3 Retail Leader

Nevada heads into the 2025 holiday season as one of the nation’s top retail performers, ranking third in the country with a 17.8% increase in holiday sales from 2023 to 2024. Only Nebraska (31.7%) and South Carolina (23.4%) grew faster. Nevada has now posted four straight years of holiday spending gains. Few states can match Nevada’s steady upward streak.

Among the top five states for holiday sales growth, Nevada surpasses the rest of the pack: Maryland (15.9%) and Virginia (15.8%). Leader Nebraska (31.7%) achieved its big jump only after a sharp decline the year before, while second-place South Carolina (23.4%) relies heavily on coastal tourism.

Nevada stands out for its steady and strong preference for in-person holiday shopping. Nevadans are roughly 18% less likely than the average American to buy gifts online, which drives heavy crowds to popular destinations like the Las Vegas Strip, Fashion Show Mall, Outlets at Legends in Sparks, and downtown shopping districts throughout the state.

Nevada’s strong preference for in-person holiday shopping runs counter to the national trend toward e-commerce. California residents are the most likely in the country to buy gifts online, roughly 30% more likely to shop digitally than the average American, followed by Washington at 23.7% and Massachusetts at 20.8%. At the opposite extreme, Wyoming shows the nation’s strongest preference for brick-and-mortar retail, with residents 38.7% less likely than the typical American to purchase holiday gifts online.

While the national average for holiday retail sales increased 7.75% last year, some states saw declines. Vermont posted the largest drop at 8.2%, its fourth straight year of falling holiday sales, and Wyoming and New Jersey also recorded decreases of 3.0% and 1.9%.

These contrasts highlight a clear divide: Nevada and a handful of states continue to thrive on the old-fashioned way, with bustling stores and festive foot traffic, while others lean heavily into the convenience of online carts.

Strong tourism, rising consumer confidence, and loyalty to brick-and-mortar stores make Nevada one of the most dependable holiday markets in the nation. Shoppers here are expected to spend close to the national average of $950 per person on gifts, apparel, electronics, and experiences this season.