The festive holiday shopping season that began with the Black Friday has so far witnessed a steady and an optimistic spending pattern from the customers in the United States, inspite of the aftermaths of the recession that left numerous people homeless and without a job. With the major discounts, especially in the electronic sections, consumers were quite keen to get their hands on flat-panel TVs other items that were available at quite alluring discounts.

However, majority of the consumer were seen to be very cautious about spending in the beginning of the shopping season and were mostly stuck to the necessary items that were on their lists and the items that wished to give to their friends and families. Still, the online shopping trends witnessed a significant rise and registered an 11% increase with the sales figures being at $913 million.

After one of the worst economic downturn in recent years, the manufacturers and retail chain owners spared no efforts in ensuring that the consumers come out in flocks for the shopping season. Retail chain giants J.C. Penney Co. and Sears Holdings Corp made really smart move to have their store chains of Kmart and Sears make available the early morning Black Friday products in both their stores and on their websites at the same time.

Via Associated Press.