Amazon's Early Prime Day Sales Are Down—Why Experts Say That's Not A Concern

Core Insights - Early Amazon Prime Day sales were down nearly 14%, which may reflect changing consumer behavior rather than a decline in overall sales expectations [1][2][3] - Momentum Commerce, which oversees $7 billion in Amazon sales, had previously predicted a 14% growth in Prime Day sales compared to last year [2][3] - The extended four-day sales event may have led to less urgency among shoppers, allowing them to time their purchases strategically [3][5] Sales Performance - The early spending drop of nearly 14% marks a significant change from previous years, where first-day sales were typically higher [2] - Adobe Analytics predicted that Amazon customers would spend $23.8 billion during the four-day event, which is approximately $9.6 billion more than last year [7] Market Reaction - Amazon's stock price fell by as much as 1.8% following the early sales report, stabilizing at a 1.4% decline later in the day [4] - The stock has been under pressure since its peak of $242.52 in February, influenced by external factors such as tariffs [5][6] Competitive Landscape - Amazon faces increased competition this year from other retailers, including Walmart and Target, who are running their own sales events concurrently [6]