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BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (AP) — A lot of Americans seem willing to head out to the malls, right after Thanksgiving dinner.
The Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, says it drew 100,000 customers between 5 p.m. yesterday and 1 a.m. today. A spokesman says traffic slowed down after 2 a.m., but it's been picking up again today. And mall officials are still hoping to top last year's total of 230,000 Thursday-to-Friday visitors.
One shopper at a mall in Aurora, Illinois, this morning said she thinks people are feeling more confident about the economy this year. But Kimberly States said she still plans to spend about the same amount -- or maybe less -- on Christmas gifts compared with last year.
For retailers hoping for strong online sales, it's not the best time for technical issues. But Best Buy's website has been down this morning, with a message that asks customers to "Check back soon."
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023-a-08-(Jose Coca, manager, Kmart store, in AP interview)-"you want to be"-This Kmart store manager in New York City, Jose Coca, says Thanksgiving and Black Friday sales help retailers generate much needed revenue at the end of the year. (28 Nov 2014)
<<CUT *023 (11/28/14)££ 00:08 "you want to be"
020-w-35-(Ross Simpson with Brian Rich, founder of the Boycott Black Thursday website and Kathy Grannis, spokeswoman for the National Retail Federation, AP correspondent)--Early-bird shoppers headed to stores on Thanksgiving in what's becoming a new holiday tradition; Black Thursday. AP correspondent Ross Simpson reports. (28 Nov 2014)
<<CUT *020 (11/28/14)££ 00:35
APPHOTO OHAST207: Johnanna Peoples, left, and her mother Shari Peoples wait in line for Peebles to open on Black Friday in Saybrook Township, Ohio, Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/The Star-Beacon, Warren Dillaway) (28 Nov 2014)
<<APPHOTO OHAST207 (11/28/14)££
APPHOTO MERB108: Target shoppers Kelly Foley, left, Debbie Winslow, center, and Ann Rich use a smartphone to look at a competitor's prices while shopping shortly after midnight on Black Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, in South Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) (28 Nov 2014)
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