Inflation puts US Black Friday crowds in a bargain-hunting mood

FT says Bargain-hunting Americans are expected to turn out in record numbers for the start of the US holiday season, but their fatigue at higher prices is making retailers cautious and putting strain on the nation’s economic engine.

Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving — traditionally kicks off America’s biggest annual shopping spree with retailers touting alluring discounts. This year, some are planning steeper markdowns to draw inflation-weary consumers into stores.

The National Retail Federation expects 182mn people to shop between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday. That would be 16mn more people than last year and the most since the NRF began tracking the data in 2017.

https://www.ft.com/content/a45addea-37ec-4e09-aacc-a7816eb4acfd