Black Friday: US shoppers see fewer 'doorbuster' deals amid market selloff - The Guardian

Covid fears and fewer “doorbuster” sales thinned crowds the day after the Thanksgiving holiday, which kicks off the year-end holiday shopping season.

“Even though the holiday season should be OK from a sales standpoint – because retailers are discounting less – the margins won’t necessarily be higher because of inflation,” said Forrester Research analyst Sucharita Kodali.

Yet retailers lured shoppers to make holiday purchases as early as September this year, because the supply chain logjam has prevented them from quickly replenishing year-end merchandise.

A Deloitte survey showed people spent 80% to 85% of their holiday gift budgets before Black Friday.

For November and December, online sales are estimated to hit a record $207bn, up 10% from last year, according to Adobe Digital Economy Index.