Black Friday is the traditional start to The holiday shopping season and this Year it takes on additional importance For retailers as concerns grow over the State of the economy these are some Pictures from Minnesota today where Crowds in search of Bargains flocked to The stores the national retail Federation estimates that more than 166 Million Americans will shop between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday this year Today alone more than 114 million are Expected to shop that's a big jump over Last year Elise Preston has more Holiday Bells harmonize with seasonal Sales to usher in The Most Wonderful Time of the Year customers will be Hitting stores all day long to kick off Black Friday the national retail Federation predicts more than 166 Million people will make purchases this Weekend with 114 million planning to Shop today online and in stores even if The prices might be higher how is Inflation impacting Shoppers Particularly on Black Friday we're Seeing a lot of consumers say I need to Make every dollar count and I think That's where we're seeing a lot of focus On finding great deals and promotions And that could be bringing some of the Interest too this year to Thanksgiving Weekend the NRF predicts there will be 8 Million more Shoppers this year than
Last for nearly 60 percent of Shoppers The deals are too good to pass up others Say a it's for tradition or a way to Enjoy their time off where are people Going to find the best deals the hottest Product categories are going to be Electronics like TVs speakers headphones Small kitchen appliances so that's your Air fryers that stand mixers and finally We think that there will be some great Deals on board games and toys this Holiday season what is the best way of Attacking getting all those deals this Black Friday weekend you can create a Wish list what that allows you to do is Kind of organize your thoughts organize What you're going to get for folks limit The additional spending that might be More impulse based small tips will go a Long way for saving big this weekend What are you seeing out there I mean are You seeing bigger deals or what are Shoppers saying about the amount of People that they're having to walk Around to get to these deals Well Omar if you take a look around the Store there are people in here there's Definitely a steady stream of Shoppers And it's been that way all morning since They opened the doors but you're not Seeing those huge hectic crowds where People are fighting over doorbuster Deals I don't know about you Omar but Some of my favorite stores have actually
Been advertising and participating in Black Friday deals since earlier in the Month so people have been saying that They've actually been shopping this Whole month they've been kind of taking Part in deals here and there people are Also really tied into these Bargains They're not spraying a bunch of Different stores they have a list that They're attacking and that is the Results of inflation because everything Across the board things are just more Expensive so Shoppers are really Sticking to lists as they're coming We've also met quite a few Black Friday Shoppers who've never participated in In-person shopping and they're doing That this year because the crowds just Aren't that crazy so they're saying that This is a pleasant surprise that they're Coming in and out getting exactly what They wanted and leaving Omar our Rising Inflation costs expected to to impact Certain sectors or certain things that People are shopping for more than others For example are we going to see cheaper High-end or luxury brand purchases or or Electronics going to be the things to Get they're always on sale but usually It's like where's there a surplus that's Where the sale is what are you seeing Yeah so those luxury items those Shoppers will continue to get those Items right they're not necessarily
Looking for deals if they find one maybe But those Shoppers will always be there We have heard from some Shoppers who Said that they aren't necessarily as Worried about inflation because they do Have like a steady flow of income so They're just kind of out browsing Shopping for what they want but we have Heard people say that they are really Sticking to those budgets because in in All honesty they need to we spoke with Someone who got a deal hundreds of Dollars off on one item but he said that Everything across the board was going up So that money that they saved today for One gift it's definitely going to be Used for like Essentials that they need Moving forward so people are just kind Of you're seeing a mixed bag but people Are definitely doing a lot of checks and Balances and if they've saved money Shopping today they say that that money Is going to be spent Elsewhere for sure Oh it's a science people are price Checking on their phone as well now what Are some of the best deals you've seen So far Well I got to tell you we spoke to an 11 Year old boy and his dad the dad Surprised the boy because he was just Doing so well in school so he got a Gaming system that was typically twelve Hundred dollars and they got it for four Hundred dollars that's an 800 difference
There so they're using that to go like Shop for for other things but we've been Talking to some people some people have Been saying that the discounts are Really cheap but others not so much it's Kind of a mixed bag on that too some People were really excited about some Deals we spoke to some woman who said That she got a juicer it was 25 off but She was very excited me I want to see More money off me personally I always Like to save a coin Um but I I would definitely say that Gaming system was probably the biggest Discount that we've heard so far when we Were talking to the family our whole Crew we were like wait what how much Money did you say well now everybody Who's looking for a gaming system like That's going to be out there in Woodland Park New Jersey with you Elise Preston Thank you very much
