Shoppers Head to Stores for Potential Record Black Friday

Discount hunters searching for Black Friday deals have officially kicked off the holiday shopping season. Consumers are forecasted to break spending records in 2024, with the average person expected to spend a little over $1,000, up 14 percent from last year, according to data from RetailMeNot.

At the Mall of America, the nation's largest retail destination, more than 13,000 shoppers came through the mall doors within the first hour of opening. Additionally, many shoppers got a head start on their holiday shopping as Mall of America had a 10 percent increase in traffic the day before Thanksgiving compared to 2023.