Sunday, November 29, 2009

Black Friday Bowling League

clipped from www.cnbc.com

American consumers shopped more for bargains at the start of the U.S. holiday season and spent significantly less than a year ago, according to early data released on Sunday.

Consumers said they will have spent nearly 8 percent less on average, or about $343 per person, over the weekend that includes U.S. Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday and runs through Sunday, according to the National Retail Federation.

Data released by ShopperTrak on Saturday showed that sales rose a scant 0.5 percent on Black Friday, which is often the single busiest day of the holiday shopping season.

The NRF has forecast a 1 percent decline in holiday sales this year, which would mark an unprecedented drop for two straight years after a global financial crisis erupted in 2008.

I didn't go out much this weekend and certainly didn't rush out early on Friday. When I did go out Friday evening, I wouldn't have felt overly in danger of hitting anyone if I practiced bowling down the aisles.