Bigger crowds participate in Black Friday weekend, $45 billion spent

National Retail Federation reports that retailers have reason to smile. According to a NRF survey conducted over the weekend, more shoppers visited stores and websites over Black Friday weekend and spent more than a year ago.
According to the survey, 212 million shoppers visited stores and websites over Black Friday weekend, up from 195 million last year. People also spent more, with the average shopper this weekend spending $365.34, up from $343.31 last year. Total spending reached an estimated $45 billion.
 “While Black Friday weekend is not always an indicator of holiday season performance, retailers should be encouraged that a focus on value and discretionary gifts has shoppers in the spirit to spend,” said Matthew Shay, NRF president and CEO. “As retailers look ahead to the first few weeks of December, it will be important for them to keep momentum going with savings and incentives that holiday shoppers simply can’t pass up.”
According to the survey, the number of people who began their Black Friday shopping at midnight tripled this year from 3.3% last year to 9.5% this year. By 4 a.m. 24% of Black Friday shoppers were already at the stores.
Thanksgiving Day openings have also been a boon to the industry. The number of people who shop on Thanksgiving, both online and in stores, has doubled over the past 5 years, from 10.3 million in 2005 to 22.3 million in 2010.