Black Friday just wrapped up with massive foot traffic, but here's the twist—wallets stayed tighter than expected. The numbers tell an interesting story: average consumer spending is tracking toward $890 per person, down from last year's $902.

What's driving the pullback? Two major headwinds are squeezing household budgets right now. Persistent inflation keeps eating into purchasing power, while sluggish job market expansion has people thinking twice before swiping cards. Even with stores packed, the actual dollars flowing through registers paint a more cautious picture.

This spending dip might signal broader shifts in consumer confidence as we head into year-end. Worth watching how this trend plays out for retail earnings and economic growth forecasts.