The annual tradition of shopping in stores the day after Thanksgiving hasn’t disappeared yet.
In an age where shopping via mobile is quickly replacing the need and desire to wait in long lines to shop for the holidays, that trend is once again getting bumped today as consumers brave cold temperatures, long lines, and the occasional violence from otherwise sweet coupon-wielding grandmothers.
Around the U.S., the AP confirmed, longer than average lines at retail outlets everywhere were reported. So large were the crowds that retail sales optimism even gave a boost to U.S. stocks.
Retail is a key driver of the nation’s economy. Consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity. November and December, which can account for as much as 40 percent of a retailer’s annual revenue, are crucial for stores.
“Foot traffic appears heavier than we’ve seen in recent years, there are a lot of positive statements out of the companies themselves, and momentum appears to be strong,” JJ Kinahan, a strategist at TD Ameritrade observed Friday morning.
Did you go shopping today for Black Friday discounts? If so, please share your mobile-less experience below.