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NEW YORK (AP) — Analysts say Thanksgiving Day and online sales appear to have made Black Friday shopping a little tamer.
There were squabbles here and there, and elbows got thrown, but the Friday morning crowds appeared smaller than usual and less frenzied. What the news is for retailers remains to be seen. Sales estimates will start trickling out later this weekend.
IBM, which tracks online sales, says they rose 8 percent compared with Black Friday last year as of yesterday afternoon, with much-increased shopping on mobile devices.
Moody's analyst Michael Zucchero said from a mall in Connecticut that plenty of shoppers were out yesterday, but it wasn't elbow-to-elbow. Friday shoppers in other areas reported similar experiences.
Hundreds of people were waiting in lines for stores to open Thanksgiving Day.
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%@AP Links
132-a-11-(Bill Martin, founder, ShopperTrak, in AP interview)-"a year ago"-ShopperTrak founder Bill Martin says there are several factors that may help boost sales this year. ((longer version of cut in wrap)) (28 Nov 2014)
<<CUT *132 (11/28/14)££ 00:11 "a year ago"
125-a-15-(Terry Lundgren, CEO, Macy's, in AP interview)-"not perform well"-Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren says even with the rise of shopping on Thanksgiving, Black Friday is still hugely important in retail. (28 Nov 2014)
<<CUT *125 (11/28/14)££ 00:15 "not perform well"
131-a-06-(Bill Martin, founder, ShopperTrak, in AP interview)-"to last year"-ShopperTrak founder Bill Martin says he expects sales will be up this holiday shopping season. ((longer version of cut in wrap)) (28 Nov 2014)
<<CUT *131 (11/28/14)££ 00:06 "to last year"
135-a-13-(Bill Martin, founder, ShopperTrak, in AP interview)-"of the year"-ShopperTrak founder Bill Martin says Black Friday's status as the biggest retail sales day of the year may soon be a thing of the past. (28 Nov 2014)
<<CUT *135 (11/28/14)££ 00:13 "of the year"
134-a-08-(Bill Martin, founder, ShopperTrak, in AP interview)-"and mortar stores"-ShopperTrak founder Bill Martin says even though more people are shopping online, most still prefer to shop in person. (28 Nov 2014)
<<CUT *134 (11/28/14)££ 00:08 "and mortar stores"
129-a-07-(Nicole Edinboro, Christmas shopper, in AP interview)-"probably a zoo"-Nicole Edinoboro, who was shopping at the Manhattan Toys R Us, thinks her pleasant experience today has something to do with the fact that a lot of people went out on Thanksgiving. (28 Nov 2014)
<<CUT *129 (11/28/14)££ 00:07 "probably a zoo"
128-a-05-(Carla Baptiste (bap-TEEST'), Christmas shopper, in AP interview)-"a few dollars"-Carla Baptiste, who was shopping at the Manhattan Toys R Us, says she had a good Black friday experience. (28 Nov 2014)
<<CUT *128 (11/28/14)££ 00:05 "a few dollars"
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