CONSUMERS GO ONLINE, RATHER THAN STAND IN LINE, AS BLACK FRIDAY KICKS OFF

Bargain-hunting Americans clicked their way through Thanksgiving, spending 5% more than last year, as more consumers turned to laptops and phones instead of braving brisk weather to snap up deals over the crucial Black Friday shopping weekend.

While early online sales figures showed a promising trend for spending, at major retailers the traditional Black Friday bargain-chasing felt subdued compared to bygone years, when throngs of people stood in line on a post-Thanksgiving morning. And many of those who ventured out said they were on a budget, fearful of overspending at a time when inflation remains above-trend and the labor market is softening.

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