Black Friday 2011: Millions More Plan To Shop This Year, Survey Finds

Americans plan this year to go shopping in greater numbers on Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year and unofficial kick-off the holiday spending season.

Some 152 million shoppers say they will hit stores on November 25, the day after U.S. Thanksgiving, up 10.1 percent from 138 million people last year, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation, an industry group.

For the November-December period, the NRF previously forecast retail sales would rise 2.8 percent to $465.6 billion, in what executives and analysts have said will be a more competitive season than last year.

Major retailers are leaving little to chance. For instance, discount retailer Target Corp and department stores Macy's Inc and Kohl's Corp are opening their doors earlier than ever, at midnight on Thanksgiving.

The survey, which polled 8,502 people between November 1 and November 8, also found that 17.3 percent of people will look for Black Friday deals on retailers' Facebook page and 11.3 percent on group buying sites such as Groupon Inc and Living Social.

(Reporting by Phil Wahba in New York; editing by Andre Grenon)

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Comments

[PhilBurgundy12]

10:53 PM on 05/02/2012

Black Friday for 2012 promises to be even bigger than last year. Expect more online sales as well.

http://myblackfriday2012.net/ Shows some of these excellent sales.

[bahkey]

01:03 PM on 11/18/2011

I feel better when I participate in food drives and leave food in the big boxes at the grocery store for the food bank. It makes me feel great inside. I literally watched my cousins, who were very poor growing up go to bed early every night (8:00 pm.) because of hunger. I can't stand to watch people
spend money on frivolous gifts, when kids are going hungry.

[goolfballl]

01:01 PM on 11/18/2011

Let's see. Should I boycott these big stores and corporations that I complain about all of the time or do I go get some good deals and claim "I'm helping the econpmy"

[kevinlockett]

12:57 PM on 11/18/2011

Thanks for the info! www.bfguys.com (Black Friday 4 Guys)

[bahkey]

12:56 PM on 11/18/2011

Hey listen up my friends on this board. I'm sending out my christmas presents right now.
MEEERRRRRRYYYY Christmas and a HHHHAAAPPPPPPYYYY New Year. This is my black friday.

[standup11]

12:35 PM on 11/18/2011

I question who were the people surveyed? I truly doubt that millions more will be shopping on Black Friday. With the number of home foreclosures and high unemployment remaining and the rising cost of food and utlities I think the number of shoppers will not be 10% more than last year. I think this article is about getting people to join the shopping/spending party on Black Friday. I believe most middle class and poor families will be spending less not more for the holidays this year.

[election2012]

11:57 AM on 11/18/2011

Yes, that's right. Spend more money you don't have in the hope it will create jobs to pay off those credit card bills from spending money you don't have...

[bahkey]

12:57 PM on 11/18/2011

Isn't that's what W. Bush said will fight terrorism? Spend, spend,spend.

[Mnemesis]

08:34 AM on 11/18/2011

Feed the Corporate monster. Holidays are dead, the spirit of them is dead. The fatal wound delivered by spear tipped commercialism. Save your money, show your loved ones that you love them with words and affection, not with material items that have no meaning.

Christmas is dead, long live the Corporate Kings.

[ILoveGreatDanes]

07:54 AM on 11/18/2011

Bah, humbug. No matter what cynical posters say, I love shopping on Black Friday. America is materialistic, corporate greed, the evils of chain stores blah, blah, blah. Sure it is. It's called capitalism, the value Americans claim to hold most dear. But when people talk about hitting stores on Black Friday and actually stimulating our struggling economy, the complaints and grumbling start in earnest. I love the hustle and bustle and competition of getting that coveted item on Black Friday, and my family loads up in the minivan together and buys a bunch of crap for everyone on their list. We don't get out as soon as the stores open though; usually about 6 or 7 AM. It's a blast!

[libertymen]

06:32 AM on 11/18/2011

Send a message to Corporate America, boycott black Friday,Cyber monday and xmas.
Dont buy a single thing.

[GloriaY]

02:35 AM on 11/18/2011

Where is all the shopping money coming from? If what we hear every day is true, millions of Americans remain unemployed, with more and more people loosing their jobs every day, and thousands if not millions lacking the ability to meet their daily needs. Can this article be merely feel good disinformation to entice people to spend even though they can't afford to do so.

[spinotter11]

07:52 AM on 11/18/2011

What kind of a person would be persuaded to buy things by the fact that other people are shopping, even if he or she could not afford to do so? If so, that person deserves bankruptcy and worse.

[teachone]

02:04 AM on 11/18/2011

EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND AT A LARGE BUSINESS IN THIS COUNTRY IS GOING INTO THE POCKETS OF THE TOP 1% WHO ARE DELIBERATELY TRYING TO TAKE AWAY EVERYTHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE AND PUT IT IN THEIR OWN GREEDY HANDS, REMEMBER THIS!!!! I WILL ONLY BE SHOPPING AT SMALL MOM AND POP STORES AND GIVING CASH, GREAT GIFT ANYONE CAN USE!! NOT GIVING ANYMORE POWER OR MONEY TO THE CORRUPT FOR THEM TO WORK WITH TO USE TO TAKE MORE FROM THE 99%!! THAT IS A TRUE CHRISTMAS GIFT TO ALL IN THIS COUNTRY AND ONE I KNOW WILL MAKE THE JESUS SMILE ON HIS BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!

[spinotter11]

07:56 AM on 11/18/2011

Jesus said, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." (Matthew 19:21) He cared nothing for money and would be totally horrified at the orgy of consumerism perpetrated in his name.

[Lazarus V]

01:43 AM on 11/18/2011

I guess the "poor" aren't hurting THAT bad...

[bluejoni2525]

01:23 AM on 11/18/2011

If we don't shop more people will lose their jobs and that's a fact !!!! Shop within your means small shops if possible and don't forget your local restaurants -- not the chain restaurants !!!!

[Raiderthree]

10:44 PM on 11/17/2011

I wonder if they plan on paying for their purchases...................