Black Friday kicks off holiday shopping

Consulting firm Accenture predicted about 52 percent of consumers -- up from 42 percent in 2008 -- would hit the stores before dawn to buy deeply discounted items and build what retailers hope will be spending momentum before the holidays, The Washington Post reported.

This year, any Black Friday momentum may not last, said Pam Danziger, head of retail consulting firm Unity Marketing.

"It's not about shopping to find gifts," she said. "It's about shopping to get really attractive discounts."

Echoing that assessment was Janet Hoffman, global managing director of retail for Accenture, who said, "We have seen a 'shift to thrift' across all income levels during this economic downturn and breaking that habit will be the greatest challenge for retailers this holiday season."

Many economists have indicated that without robust spending by shoppers during the holiday season, the country's budding recovery will be nipped, the Post said.

Economist Paul Dales of Capital Economics warned against giving Black Friday too much weight, saying it isn't a reliable indicator of overall holiday sales.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.