Retailers across Panama reported a dramatic increase in customer traffic and sales over the past weekend, driven by aggressive black friday and Cyber Monday promotions. The shopping frenzy, which began on November 28, officially kicks off the country’s extended holiday sales season leading up to Mother’s Day on December 8 and the end-of-year festivities.
Stores and online platforms offered discounts ranging from 30 percent to as high as 70 percent on a wide array of goods. This strategic timing capitalizes on the traditional disbursement of Christmas bonuses, known locally as the “thirteenth month,” and other year-end payments to workers.
Record Shopper Traffic in Physical Stores
The Panamanian Association of Shopping Centers (Apacecom) monitored the initial surge. The group’s data indicates some malls experienced double the usual shopper traffic during the promotional period. Erick Zamora, the association’s former president and current representative, confirmed the powerful start to the holiday season.
“The data we have shows that, on Friday in particular, some shopping centers registered up to 50 percent more shopper traffic, as well as on Saturday, due to the promotions offered,” Zamora said. [Translated from Spanish]
He projected strong sales will continue throughout December. Consumer spending is typically fueled by Christmas savings, the mandatory year-end bonus, and other seasonal payments. This creates a critical revenue period for Panama‘s retail sector.
Online Shopping Gains Major Momentum
Beyond brick-and-mortar stores, Panamanian consumers enthusiastically embraced online deals. Many local retailers launched dedicated Cyber Monday campaigns on December 1, mirroring the popular U.S. online shopping event. Websites for home goods, technology, appliances, clothing, and beauty products displayed prominent discounts, some reaching 50 percent.
Panamanians also frequently shop from international online retailers during this period. Consumers regularly target major sales on platforms like Amazon, Temu, and Shein. Global spending data underscores the scale of this trend. In the United States alone, Adobe Analytics reported online consumer spending reached approximately $11.8 billion during Black Friday. That figure represents a 9.1 percent increase over the previous year.
Certain product categories saw astronomical sales growth online according to international reports. Citing data from Adobe Analytics, the EFE news agency noted remarkable spikes in sales for video game consoles, televisions, headphones, and refrigerators. Increases for these items ranged from 1,630 percent to an astonishing 1,900 percent compared to average daily sales figures.
The convergence of local promotions and global online sales events has clearly reshaped the holiday shopping calendar in Panama. Retailers now view the period from late November through December as an interconnected marathon of commercial opportunities. With Mother’s Day and Christmas still ahead, the sales momentum from this strong opening weekend is expected to hold.