Black Friday sales fall as sales start earlier

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

NEW YORK (AP) — The crowds of bargain hunters that rush through store doors the day after Thanksgiving have thinned out.

U.S. shoppers spent $9.1 billion at stores on Black Friday, according to data out Saturday from research firm ShopperTrak. That's a drop of 7 percent compared with the same day last year.

But it's too early to call the holiday shopping season a dud, said Bill Martin, ShopperTrak' s co-founder. Sales on Thanksgiving jumped 24 percent to $3.2 billion. And overall sales for the two days are expected to slip half a percent to $12.29 billion. The figures don't include online transactions.

For the second straight year, the report suggests that more people avoided the crowds on Black Friday by avoiding time at home on Thanksgiving Day. This year, many large retail stores decided to open their doors to eager shoppers for extended hours on the holiday.

FULL story at link.



Graphic shows retail sales for Thanksgiving and Black Friday.; 1c x 4 inches; 46.5 mm x 101 mm;


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20141130/us--holiday_shopping-black_friday-sales-2567599297.html

[Socal31]

1. Not surprising.

There is more money to be spent due to more jobs, and Americans are now increasing revolving credit usage after years of cutting back.

[TomCADem]

2. They Should Start Black Labor Day With The Holiday Season...

...going back further and further.

[Schema Thing]

3. My guess is that this signals a better sales year for the Christmas season

People go crazy for Black Friday when they feel like that those deals are the only things they can afford. If you have a little more money, you don't kill yourself.

That's my theory anyway, we'll see how it plays out.

[femmocrat]

4. Glad to see that people are starting to wise up.

It's the same junk that is on sale all season, except for the TVs, which are usually under-stocked on purpose. For those who enjoy the adventure, good for them, but I always feel bad for the poor sales clerks who have to work on the holiday.

[spooky3]

5. I was surprised at how light the traffic was today. I thought a lot of people would be shopping.

A lot are probably buying online this year.

[Sherman A1]

11. Agreed

and with the stretching of "Black Friday" promotions back to just after Halloween, online shopping as you mentioned and the increase use of gift cards, the whole thing is diluted. The sales are spread out and the hype is certainly gone. My black friday shopping was taking advantage of a sale to buy a couple pairs of slacks for work. Most of my shopping is now gift cards for the nieces & nephews.

[SoapBox]

6. I had whiplash...

On the radio, bemoaning a decline in Friday sales...and in the same story then raving about the huge increase in Thursday sales.

[cstanleytech]

7. Big middle finger to anyone here if they went shopping at a store on Thanksgiving because you helped

ruin other peoples holiday.

[spooky3]

13. Nope--went Saturday (and online Fri and Sat). Big grocery bill for cookie ingredients to put in tins

For friends and family.

[cstanleytech]

15. Good for you. I wish more people would only do that and tell the retailers to kiss their butts about

staying open on Thanksgiving and ruining their employees holiday.

[JI7]

8. i think people are starting to realize it's not all that great, the ones who do go shopping

are the types who for whatever reason enjoy that whole atmosphere with crowds and shopping.

but for those who did do it specifically to get a good deal on something they are seeing they could do it earlier or later also. and it's just not worth it when you consider everything with having to get there early.

[oldandhappy]

9. There is a finite amount of money.

People can spend it on which ever day the ads convince them is best. I pretty much avoid all of it! Did go out today for a project I am doing. Walked out of one store where the line was over 20 people long. What I want will be there in January and at the same price. But the three other places were quick and easy. Peace to all of you.

[Sherman A1]

10. Just looking at the chart

and combining the Thursday/Friday columns it appears that sales are about what they where in 2011, meaning they are flat and considering the increases in pricing, means less was sold.

Oh, well........

[Stuart G]

12. Six extremely important words: The figures don't include online transactions. ......

I think when you include on line transactions, (now, I don't know if you needed to be in stores themselves, or just on line to get special deals, cause I don't shop on line much) ....you will see that sales actually increased. If the deals were online too, then save time and gas and use the computer..also, I am guessing there were special online deals too. So, direct shipping from warehouse to customer saves everyone time and money. No shipping or unloading at the store..Maybe I will buy online....

[vinny9698]

14. The proper term is "Cannibalizing their sales"

Cannibalizing by competing against themselves over a limited amount of money.

[jmowreader]

16. "Black Friday All Month" sales need to take some of the blame

Ten years ago, Black Friday was the day after Thanksgiving, and the retailers held their fire until then. This year, "Black Friday" (which is actually Black Five-Day Weekend - I'm seeing circulars that have sales extending all the way into Monday, to dilute the Cyber Monday event) is purely doorbusters.

I worked every day from Saturday before Thanksgiving up to Thanksgiving Day itself - newspapers don't print themselves, folks - so on my one day off I bought a pair of shoes I needed anyway, had dinner and saw "The Boxtrolls" at the Garland Theatre. That is one SERIOUSLY liberal movie...it attacks slavery, prejudice and corruption. I highly recommend it.