This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/nov/23/black-friday-shoppers-thanksgiving-sales

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Black Friday: shoppers out in force as post-Thanksgiving sales kick off Black Friday: shoppers out in force as post-Thanksgiving sales kick off
(about 2 hours later)
Black Friday's annual shopping extravaganza started in earnest Friday morning after a controversial decision by major US stores to open late the night before gave shoppers an early chance to bag heavily discounted wares.Black Friday's annual shopping extravaganza started in earnest Friday morning after a controversial decision by major US stores to open late the night before gave shoppers an early chance to bag heavily discounted wares.
The pre-Christmas shopping bonanza appeared to get off to a relatively peaceful start. Past sales have been marred by deaths, with some shoppers trampled by stampeding crowds.The pre-Christmas shopping bonanza appeared to get off to a relatively peaceful start. Past sales have been marred by deaths, with some shoppers trampled by stampeding crowds.
Despite relative peace, the Associated Press reported that a shopper in San Antonio, Texas, pulled a gun on another who punched him in the face while they were waiting in line at a Sears store.Despite relative peace, the Associated Press reported that a shopper in San Antonio, Texas, pulled a gun on another who punched him in the face while they were waiting in line at a Sears store.
And there were protests and walkouts at Walmarts in cities across the US, where workers have been angered by the retailer's decision to open on Thanksgiving, traditionally a national holiday.And there were protests and walkouts at Walmarts in cities across the US, where workers have been angered by the retailer's decision to open on Thanksgiving, traditionally a national holiday.
The protests organised by workers' group Our Walmart started on Thursday evening in Miami – and more were planned for Friday in cities including Chicago, Milwaukee, Washington DC, Dallas and Los Angeles.The protests organised by workers' group Our Walmart started on Thursday evening in Miami – and more were planned for Friday in cities including Chicago, Milwaukee, Washington DC, Dallas and Los Angeles.
"Our voices are being heard and our calls for change at Walmart are becoming louder as thousands of supporters across the country join us. Walmart cannot silence us. Until there is real change at Walmart, we will continue to speak out for an end to the attempts to silence us and for better jobs," said Colby Harris, a Walmart worker from Lancaster, Texas."Our voices are being heard and our calls for change at Walmart are becoming louder as thousands of supporters across the country join us. Walmart cannot silence us. Until there is real change at Walmart, we will continue to speak out for an end to the attempts to silence us and for better jobs," said Colby Harris, a Walmart worker from Lancaster, Texas.
Walmart and Toys R Us opened at 8pm on Thursday with some products in their Black Friday deals, while electronics retailer Best Buy opened at midnight in the traditional sales that follow Thanksgiving.Walmart and Toys R Us opened at 8pm on Thursday with some products in their Black Friday deals, while electronics retailer Best Buy opened at midnight in the traditional sales that follow Thanksgiving.
Sales are expected to increase 4.1% over the festive period, according to the National Retail Federation in America, down on the 5.6% increase seen in 2011. And despite the protests, Walmart said it had had its best Black Friday
/>ever. On Thursday the retailer said it served 22m customers and
/>processed nearly 10m register transactions and almost 5,000 items per
/>second.
Since its holiday sales events began, Walmart sold more than
1.8m towels, 1.3m televisions, 1.3m dolls and 250,000 bicycles, according to its figures.
Sector-wide sales are expected to increase 4.1% over the festive period, according to the National Retail Federation in America, down on the 5.6% increase seen in 2011.
However, the organisation believes the number of shoppers drawn in by the weekend-long sales could be down – with 147 million shoppers, compared with 152 million a year earlier.However, the organisation believes the number of shoppers drawn in by the weekend-long sales could be down – with 147 million shoppers, compared with 152 million a year earlier.
Charles O'Shea, a senior analyst at Moody's, told Reuters the reason for early store openings could be to challenge online retailers.Charles O'Shea, a senior analyst at Moody's, told Reuters the reason for early store openings could be to challenge online retailers.
He said: "It's a recognition that retailers need to be more aggressive and want to show their physical stores are important. It's a finite pie; if you can get a bit more by being open, then do it."He said: "It's a recognition that retailers need to be more aggressive and want to show their physical stores are important. It's a finite pie; if you can get a bit more by being open, then do it."
However, Kevin Sterneckert from researchers Gartner Group warned: "They [shoppers] will buy things because they looked at it in the store. They will touch and feel what they are interested in and then buy it online on Monday, either from the same retailer or a different online retailer."However, Kevin Sterneckert from researchers Gartner Group warned: "They [shoppers] will buy things because they looked at it in the store. They will touch and feel what they are interested in and then buy it online on Monday, either from the same retailer or a different online retailer."
But there are signs that consumers are more confident this year with the unemployment rate continuing to fall, slowly, and signs of a recovery in the housing market. According to the Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index 37% of households now believe the economy will get better, the highest level since March 2002. A year ago a record number of consumers said it was a bad time to spend.But there are signs that consumers are more confident this year with the unemployment rate continuing to fall, slowly, and signs of a recovery in the housing market. According to the Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index 37% of households now believe the economy will get better, the highest level since March 2002. A year ago a record number of consumers said it was a bad time to spend.