Black Friday Sees Varied Trends Amid Cold Weather

Black Friday has brought shoppers out in force in various locations, with long-standing traditions of seeking deals evident in places like Home Depot in Guam and Bass Pro Shops in St. Louis. This year sees a quieter start in the UK, with fewer queues and a drop in online trading, though overall spending is expected to rise over the weekend. In the U.S., cold weather conditions, particularly in the D.C. area, are expected to impact shoppers, with temperatures at or below freezing. Despite the cold, many shoppers are excited to continue their holiday traditions, with some starting as early as Thanksgiving in South Florida. Retailers are hopeful for a boost in sales thanks to minimum wage increases and proximity to payday.