Klarna Reports Triple-Digit Surge in Holiday Spending Across Key Categories

Key Takeaways

• Klarna reports a significant increase in U.S. holiday spending beyond traditional retail, with triple-digit year-over-year growth in entertainment, experiences, and automotive products.
• Consumer trends show a shift towards experiential and high-value practical purchases, with footwear, headphones, gaming, accessories, and fragrances being the most popular categories.
• Klarna’s flexible payment options continue to be adopted by consumers, with over 114 million global active users and 3.4 million transactions per day.
• The company’s AI-powered payments and commerce network is empowering people to pay smarter, with a mission to be available everywhere for everything.

Introduction to Klarna’s Holiday Spending Report
Klarna, a global digital bank and flexible payments provider, has released a report on U.S. holiday spending, revealing a significant increase in consumer spending beyond traditional retail. The report shows that from December 1 to December 22, there was a triple-digit year-over-year growth in entertainment, experiences, and automotive products, such as vehicle maintenance and repairs. This shift towards experiential and high-value practical purchases is a clear indication of changing consumer trends. The results also underscore strong consumer demand and the continued adoption of Klarna’s flexible payment options during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.

Consumer Trends and Preferences
In traditional retail categories, Klarna’s data reveals that consumers shopped for footwear, headphones, gaming, accessories, and fragrances in the final days leading up to Christmas. Footwear was the most-clicked category, with timeless classics such as Nike Air Force 1 ’07, UGG Lowmel, Adidas Samba OG, and classic Jordan styles being popular among shoppers. Children’s shoes also ranked among the top three most-clicked categories, driven by UGG Kid’s Lowmel styles and youth-sized Nike classics. Headphones were the second most-clicked category, with Apple AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) being the most popular, along with premium noise-canceling models from Sony and Bose.

Gaming and Accessories
Gaming interest centered on console upgrades, with Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Series S models leading clicks, alongside newer systems such as the Nex Playground Game System. Accessories, such as handbags, saw steady holiday engagement, with shoppers favoring practical, everyday styles over statement pieces. Brands such as Michael Kors, Coach, Lululemon, and Marc Jacobs led clicks. Fragrances also dominated clicks, with classic, giftable scents such as Carolina Herrera Good Girl, Dior Sauvage, and Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb being popular among consumers.

About Klarna and Its Mission
Klarna is a global digital bank and flexible payments provider, with over 114 million global active users and 3.4 million transactions per day. The company’s AI-powered payments and commerce network is empowering people to pay smarter, with a mission to be available everywhere for everything. Consumers can pay with Klarna online, in-store, and through Apple Pay & Google Pay. More than 850,000 retailers trust Klarna’s innovative solutions to drive growth and loyalty, including Uber, H&M, Saks, Sephora, Macy’s, Ikea, Expedia Group, Nike, and Airbnb. Klarna is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: KLAR).

Forward-Looking Statements and Risks
The press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding Klarna’s future financial performance, business strategy, growth objectives, market opportunities, and operational plans. These statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. The company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated, and investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The company’s ability to retain and grow consumer and merchant relationships, competition and technological developments, regulatory compliance and licensing requirements, and credit risk management and funding availability are some of the risks and uncertainties that could impact its future performance.