Black Friday Still Draws Crowds as Holiday Shopping Begins
Black Friday remains a major shopping day in America, signaling the start of the holiday season. While the wild scenes of past years may be less common, many shoppers still look forward to the sales.
This year, businesses are dealing with an economy facing some challenges. While some worried about the effects of tariffs on imported goods, many companies have worked hard to keep prices reasonable for families.
While some reports show consumer confidence has dipped slightly, shoppers have continued to spend. Stores like Walmart and Best Buy have reported good sales numbers. However, people are being careful and looking for the best deals.
Experts believe that holiday sales will still be strong. The National Retail Federation forecasts a healthy increase in spending compared to last year. Mastercard SpendingPulse also predicts sales will rise.
Online shopping is especially popular, with strong sales already reported. Stores have adjusted their strategies to handle tariffs, sometimes absorbing costs and sometimes passing them on to consumers, especially on goods like toys.
Some business leaders have pointed out that stores aren’t offering huge discounts as early as they used to. This might be because they have less merchandise in stock, which allows them to keep prices more stable.
