Big Black Friday weekend results: 212 million shoppers, $45 billion spent

The flurry of post-Black Friday figures continues, with the National Retail Federation releasing its Thanksgiving weekend results.

According to the retail trade group, 212 million shoppers visited stores and websites over the four-day Black Friday weekend, up from 195 million during the same period last year.

People also bought more, with the average shopper this weekend spending $365.34, up from last year?s $343.31. Total spending reached an estimated $45.0 billion.

With retailers opening their doors earlier than ever, the number of people who began their Black Friday shopping at midnight rose from 3.3% last year to 9.5% in 2010. In fact by 4 a.m., 24% of Black Friday shoppers were already at the stores.

Thanksgiving Day openings have also been a boon to the industry, as the number of people who shop on the holiday ?- both online and in stores -- has more than doubled over the past five years, from 10.3 million in 2005 to 22.3 million in 2010.

Shoppers also were in the mood to purchase more discretionary gifts this year. The number of people who purchased jewelry over the weekend rose from 11.7% last year to 14.3% this year. And more people purchased gift cards, toys, books and electronic entertainment than a year ago.

-- Andrea Chang

Full story at http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/MoneyCompany/~3/5I3Wt4hu-qU/big-black-friday-weekend-results-212-million-shoppers-and-45-billion-spent.html