Thanksgiving Day shopping provokes strong feelings


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WASHINGTON (AP) — Shoppers no longer have to wait until Black Friday to cruise store aisles for holiday deals.

With online shopping available at any time of the day or night, many major retailers are opening their doors on Thanksgiving Day. Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Toys R Us and Macy's are among the retailers whose brick-and-mortar stores will be open by 6 p.m.

But, the decision to open on the holiday gets mixed reactions from consumers. In its annual consumer survey, the Deloitte (deh-LOYT') financial services firm finds more than half of those surveyed say they disagree with stores being open on Thanksgiving and feel more loyalty to those who remain closed. Deloitte's head of retail, Rod Sides, says half of the respondents said they would hold off on purchases if their preferred store is not open on either Thanksgiving or Black Friday.

Meanwhile, Maine's attorney general is taking it a step further. Janet Mills is reminding state residents that Maine does not allow stores over 5,000 square feet to be open on holidays. The law has been in place for 52 years.

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%@AP Links

141-a-07-(Rod Sides, vice chairman, retail, Deloitte (deh-LOYT'), in AP interview)-"projected to increase"-Retail analyst Rod Sides of Deloitte says his firm had been projecting a 3-4 percent increase in holiday spending, but its annual consumer survey suggests sales could be even stronger. (26 Nov 2015)

<<CUT *141 (11/26/15)££ 00:07 "projected to increase"

140-a-13-(Rod Sides, vice chairman, retail, Deloitte (deh-LOYT'), in AP interview)-"holiday shopping day"-Retail analyst Rod Sides of Deloitte says early promotions and online shopping have made for a more even flow of shopping over the Thanksgiving weekend. (26 Nov 2015)

<<CUT *140 (11/26/15)££ 00:13 "holiday shopping day"

139-a-12-(Rod Sides, vice chairman, retail, Deloitte (deh-LOYT'), in AP interview)-"shopping on Thanksgiving"-Retail analyst Rod Sides of Deloitte says shoppers have strong reactions, pro and con, to stores opening for business on Thanksgiving Day. (26 Nov 2015)

<<CUT *139 (11/26/15)££ 00:12 "shopping on Thanksgiving"

142-a-12-(Rod Sides, vice chairman, retail, Deloitte (deh-LOYT'), in AP interview)-"offers as well"-Retail analyst Rod Sides of Deloitte says, even as consumer spending grows, shoppers can expect retailers to offer big holiday discounts. (26 Nov 2015)

<<CUT *142 (11/26/15)££ 00:12 "offers as well"

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