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NEW YORK (AP) — The traditional kickoff to the holiday shopping season has become a two-day affair, with more stores opening before people put down their turkey legs on Thanksgiving.
There's good reason for the creep; businesses know shoppers will only spend so much, and they want the first crack at grabbing those holiday dollars. Still, millions of Americans are expected to head out in search of steep discounts today, the traditional start to the annual shopping binge.
The National Retail Federation expects holiday sales to grow 4.1 percent to $616.9 billion — the highest increase since 2011.
The holiday shopping season is a make-or-break time for many retailers, which can get as much as 20 percent of their annual sales during the time. Already, retailers have resorted to steep discounting to lure shoppers.
As far as getting the best bargain, it may already be too late. Analysis of sales data and store circulars by two research firms says the hottest deals of the season may have been on Thanksgiving.
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013-a-14-(Kathy Grannis, spokeswoman, National Retail Federation, in AP interview)-"we say, Barbie"-Kathy Grannis, with the National Retail Federation, says there is children's toy that is in high demand this year. (28 Nov 2014)
<<CUT *013 (11/28/14)££ 00:14 "we say, Barbie"
016-a-05-(Kathy Grannis, spokeswoman, National Retail Federation, in AP interview)-"a new TV"-Kathy Grannis, with the National Retail Federation, says flat-screen TV's are big-sellers this holiday weekend, due in part to large discounts. (28 Nov 2014)
<<CUT *016 (11/28/14)££ 00:05 "a new TV"
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"
014-a-05-(Kathy Grannis, spokeswoman, National Retail Federation, in AP interview)-"product, uh, this Christmas"-Kathy Grannis, with the National Retail Federation, says a Disney movie has spawned the hottest-selling items for girls this year. (28 Nov 2014)
<<CUT *014 (11/28/14)££ 00:05 "product, uh, this Christmas"
015-a-14-(Kathy Grannis, spokeswoman, National Retail Federation, in AP interview)-"keep track of"-Kathy Grannis, with the National Retail Federation, says large TV's are the big sellers for the kickoff of the holiday shopping season. (28 Nov 2014)
<<CUT *015 (11/28/14)££ 00:14 "keep track of"
012-w-35-(Nicki Mayo, AP correspondent with Brian Rocha, shopper, and Kathy Grannis, spokeswoman, National Retail Federation)--The National Retail Federation is estimating that 25.6 million shoppers took advantage of the Thanksgiving Day sales, and that's starting to take a bite out of Black Friday business. AP correspondent Nicki Mayo reports. (28 Nov 2014)
<<CUT *012 (11/28/14)££ 00:35
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