Black Friday sales continue, but mostly online [Video]

Despite retailers offering holiday discounts earlier than usual this year, U.S. consumers did more shopping on Black Friday than the days leading up to it.

In-store and online retail sales saw a 3.4 per cent increase year-over-year on Black Friday, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse.

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“Shoppers are making the most of seasonal deals and enjoying a balance of experiences spending and gifts for all loved ones,” said Steve Sadove, senior advisor for Mastercard, in a news release. “They’re more strategic in their shopping though, prioritizing promotions that they believe hold the greatest value — opening their wallets, but with more intentional distribution.”

More people turned to online shops on Friday, while in-store sales grew less than one per cent compared to last year. According to Mastercard, online sales were up 14.6 per cent from last year. …