Black Friday Boosts Beginning of Holiday Season

Black Friday Boosts Beginning of Holiday Season
December 01, 2008

According to the National Retail Federation's (NRF) 2008 Black Friday Weekend survey, conducted by BIGresearch, more than 172 million shoppers visited stores and Web sites during Black Friday weekend, up from 147 million shoppers last year. Shoppers spent an average of $372.57 this weekend, up 7.2 percent over last year's $347.55. Total spending reached an estimated $41 billion. Friday was the busiest day of the weekend, with 73.6 million people hitting stores and Web sites for doorbuster sales. Although traffic subsided thereafter, retailers were also buoyed by two-day sales as 56.9 million people shopped on Saturday, up from 48.3 million last year, while another 26.2 million people planned to shop on Sunday. Thanksgiving Day also continues to increase in importance, as the number of people who shopped on Thursday was up 48 percent over last year (16.2 million people versus 10.9 million people). According to the findings, Americans have completed slightly more shopping than they had one year ago (39.3 percent versus 36.4 percent), indicating that traffic and sales during the next several weeks will moderate. NRF continues to project that holiday sales will rise 2.2 percent this year to $470.4 billion.

Produced by: Nielsen Business Media, a part of the Nielsen Company
	Hospitality Design \| Kitchen & Bath Business \| Display & Design Ideas Multi-Housing News \| Commercial Property News \| Impressions

DDI has been heralding the latest retail store design ideas since 1988 and has become a trusted source for all things retail. When DDI first appeared 20 years ago, the market was right for a magazine that focused on the retail environment. DDI has grown to become the retail design resource for store design concepts and a trusted guide to retail design ideas. DDI carefully chronicles the changes and focuses on the things that generate a buzz the world over in the retail industry.