(NewsNation) — Americans spent billions during Cyber Week, and while the spending surge beat expectations, it may not actually signal a healthy economy.

As credit card debt and delinquencies on other short-term loans continue to rise, more shoppers are relying on “buy now, pay later” plans — which allow them to delay payments — to cover the price of holiday decor, gifts and other purchases.

Companies have been bracing for mass layoffs and inflation, but retailers say this year’s holiday season is shaping up to be one of the strongest in years, even with tight budgets and economic uncertainty.

$44.2B spent online during Cyber Week

Americans spent $44.2 billion online during Cyber Week — the five-day period from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday — with higher daily spending than last year, according to Adobe Analytics.

That includes a record $11.8 billion on Black Friday. In the peak hours of Cyber Monday, shoppers spent $16 million a minute.

Record Cyber Monday for ‘buy now, pay later’ apps

Adobe Analytics data showed the use of the flexible “buy now, pay later” method hit an all-time high on Cyber Monday, driving $1.03 billion in online spending.

According to the data, Black Friday “buy now, pay later” use increased 9% from last year, and Cyber Monday was expected to top the $1 billion mark — a 5% rise.

AI-driven tools drive shoppers to deals

Shoppers also relied on chatbots and other artificial intelligence tools for price comparisons and deals.

Adobe found AI-driven traffic to retail sites has skyrocketed, up from 670% on Cyber Monday and 760% so far this season, as new shopping companions like Walmart’s Sparky and Amazon’s Rufus become more popular.

Consumers also used chatbots and other AI features to compare prices and secure discounts. AI-driven traffic to U.S. retail sites is expected to increase nearly eightfold from last year, Adobe said.

Americans are racking up debt to keep shopping

So, what do these sales mean for the economy?

In the short term, strong sales will boost gross domestic product and retailers’ Q4 earnings. But in the long term, economists say it could be a warning sign.

“It’s retail therapy. The worse you feel, the more you shop,” said economist Mitch Roschelle. “If anything scares me about the economy and the consumer, it’s not whether or not they shop, it’s how ballooned our consumer debt has gotten in this country and how much Americans owe on credit cards.”

U.S. credit card debt hit a record high last quarter, topping $1 trillion, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and 90-day delinquency rates are now at a 12-year high.