The National Retail Federation anticipates big crowds this Super Saturday, forecasting 157.2 million people shopping in stores and online. That's an 11% rise from last year's 141.9 million and just shy of the record 158.5 million set in 2022.

While it's a favorite day of seasonal procrastinators, Super Saturday -- the last Saturday before Christmas -- has increasingly become the target of devoted deal-seekers looking for shopper markdowns. This year, the calendar is exerting extra pressure. Not only is there a shorter window between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but there are also just four days between Saturday and Christmas. And for the first time since 2005, Dec. 25 is a double holiday, with Hanukkah beginning that evening.

More people -- an estimated 69.5 million compared to 58.3 million last year -- expect to make purchases both in-store and online.

They're also committed to hitting post-holiday sales, with 71% planning to shop the week immediately following Dec. 25, returning presents that were duds, redeeming gift cards or just taking advantage of markdowns.

The NRF, which conducts its research with Prosper Insights & Analytics, also reports that consumers had purchased about 50% of the items on their lists as of early December. And through Dec. 15, Salesforce reports that online holiday spending is up 4%, reaching $849 billion.

The software analytics company draws its data from 1.5 billion consumers and says this year, retailers are heavily relying on AI agents and buy-online, pick-up-in-store (BOPIS) tactics to keep the spending momentum going. Since Nov. 1, Salesforce says AI has influenced 19% of global online orders through actions like customized promotions, order support, and product recommendations.

BOPIS accounted for 21% of online orders in the week following Cyber Monday.

As ground shipping deadlines pass, Salesforce predicts that retailers who offer that in-store option will experience five to seven times higher online sales growth than those without.