Buyers spent $11.4 billion at retail stores and malls, up nearly $1 billion from last year, according to a report from the Washington Post. It was the largest amount ever spent on the day that marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season, and the biggest year-over-year increase since 2007.
Online shopping was strong as well, with a 24.3 percent increase in online spending on Black Friday, according to IBM, which tracks sales at 500 online retailers.
Sales were also up 4 percent each in the two weeks leading up to Black Friday, as retailers started their promotions earlier than usual or extended their hours.
Still while the weekend is expected to quiet down, many retailers see the strong sales as a good sign and expect more people to shop this holiday than last year. Despite the economic downturn, many shoppers may have put off big purchases during the Summer and could be coming in to buy their gifts now.
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