National Retail Federation Issues Black Friday Results & Cyber Monday Forecasts

Results are yet unclear, but it is obvious consumers are hunting for bargains and discounts.
Some results below.

National Retail Federation Issues Black Friday Results & Cyber Monday Forecasts

Women spent on average less then men over the weekend ($333.80 vs. $413.50). More of that amount was spent online by men then by women ($142.66 vs. $93.26). Average spending was highest in the Northeast ($397.31) and South ($394.71) and lowest in the West ($314.06), with the Midwest ($359.48) falling in between.

Over half - 55.8% - of employees with internet access at work said they plan to shop from work on Cyber Monday. This is a significant increase from 2005, when only 44.7% (59 million) had plans to do so. Men are slightly more likely then women to plan to shop on Cyber Monday (38.5% vs. 35.9%). Consumers with incomes over $50k or aged 18-34 are most likely to participate in Cyber Monday. Those over aged 55 or with incomes under $50k are least likely to shop that day.

Nov 30th. The Stock Market, the week ahead

Black Friday turned out to be not as bad as expected, although steep discounts were given. Bargain hunting is trump this year. Tomorrow (Monday Dec 1st) is 'Cyber Monday' in the U.K.
The markets had a very good week last week, we can expect profit taking in the next days. The terrorist attack in Mumbai can have a profound psychological impact om the (Asian) markets as well. Torrow morning we can give more news and the latest updates.

When you want to get detailed financial information take a look at CNBC TV in the morning,

Wall St Week Ahead: Stocks eye dour jobs, shopping data

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street may struggle this week to build on its best weekly performance in almost 30 years as investors grapple with a raft of economic data, including the November jobs report, that will likely provide more evidence of a deep economic downturn.
This week, investors will keenly watch retail sales to see if consumers opened their wallets and began buying gifts on Black Friday, as the day after Thanksgiving is known. It's the traditional start of the holiday shopping season and usually one of the year's biggest shopping days.
But this time, holiday sales forecasts are grim as the end of easy credit and rising unemployment have made consumers more frugal.
Wall Street ended last week's holiday-shortened run in the black, snapping a weeks-long losing streak as investors were encouraged by the U.S. government's bailout of Citigroup.

About "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday

Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States. It is also the beginning of the Christmas Shopping Season, and since many employees take the day off it is usually a busy day for shops and shopping. Retailers often open early and have special deals for shoppers.
With the recession beginning to show this year it looks like an 'all or nothing' event for retailers. For some of them there is a lot at stake, their survivability depends not only on having the biggest, boldest Black Friday sales they've ever had. They also wish to extend the critical holiday shopping season till far after Christmas.
The bad news is that this could be the worst holiday shopping season on record.
The good news is this time for consumers (shoppers) hunting for bargains, could however be the best time ever. So if you want this huge new flat-screen or the latest gadget, be patient and take a look around.

Retailers on Black Friday, Red or Black?

Cyber Monday immediately follows on Black Friday. It's the beginning of the shopping season in Great Britain.