The opening of the holiday shopping season was the most robust on record, even in the face of <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/inflation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inflationary</a> pressures, <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/supply-chain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">supply chain</a> bottlenecks, and other <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">economic</a> headwinds.
A record 196.7 million Americans shopped online and in person during the five days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, according to data released by the National Retail Federation, shattering the trade association’s initial projection of 166.3 million shoppers during the first weekend of the holiday season.
“The Thanksgiving holiday shopping weekend is a tradition treasured by many American families,” National Retail Federation CEO Matthew Shay remarked in a <a href="https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/record-1967-million-consumers-shop-over-thanksgiving-holiday-weekend" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>. “As inflationary pressures persist, consumers have responded by stretching their dollars in any way possible. Retailers have responded accordingly, offering shoppers a season of buying convenience, matching sales and promotions across online and in-store channels to accommodate their customers at each interaction.”
The typical consumer spent $325.44 on holiday-related purchases throughout the weekend, most of which was spent on gifts, exceeding the $301.27 average recorded last year. Americans were most likely to shop online or visit a department store.
Shay said during a press call attended by The Daily Wire that many households have generally been “a bit more cautious” with their expenditures, although they continue to spend on necessities. Some families are “taking on additional debt” and “tapping into savings” to meet monthly expenses and cover additional spending during the holiday season. He noted that overall retail sales have increased every month since May 2020, implying that the sector has “incredible resilience” despite multiple economic constraints.
A similar <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/black-friday-breaks-revenue-record-as-consumers-endure-high-inflation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from Adobe Analytics found that households are projected to spend $210 billion this season, exceeding the $205 billion spent in 2021 and the $188 billion spent in 2020. Companies earned $9.1 billion this year on Black Friday alone.
Shay also expressed concern at the beginning of the call over a pending rail strike that could cripple supply chain operations ahead of the holidays. “Any slowdown, stoppage, or delay in rail transit of goods and people in this country would be devastating for our economy and for American households,” Shay continued. “We certainly encourage Congress… to move quickly to remove this uncertainty so we can all move on without this hanging over our heads as we get into the last few weeks of the year.”
Hundreds of business associations recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/business-groups-demand-congress-step-in-to-avoid-certain-economic-destruction-from-rail-strike-ahead-of-holiday-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asked</a> leaders of both major parties to intervene ahead of the holidays. President Joe Biden likewise <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-calls-for-congressional-intervention-to-avoid-potentially-crippling-rail-strike" target="_blank" rel="noopener">demanded</a> that Congress immediately move to “avert a potentially crippling national rail shutdown” in a Monday statement. “At this critical moment for our economy, in the holiday season, we cannot let our strongly held conviction for better outcomes for workers deny workers the benefits of the bargain they reached, and hurl this nation into a devastating rail freight shutdown,” he remarked.
SMART Transportation Division, a union representing rail conductors, announced last week that members <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rail-strike-threat-returns-as-union-group-rejects-latest-offer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rejected</a> the tentative agreement, which would produce the largest wage hike for the industry in four decades. Freight rail accounts for 40% of long-distance shipping volume, according to a <a href="https://rilastagemedia.blob.core.windows.net/rila-web/rila.web/media/media/pdfs/supply%20chain/rila-rail-labor-dispute.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from the Retail Industry Leaders Association, including products such as chemicals used to treat wastewater and ethanol used as a component in gasoline.

Black Friday in Costa Mesa, CA

Thanksgiving Weekend Holiday Shopping Shatters Expectations Despite Economic Headwinds

Holiday Shopping Spend Exceeds Forecasts During Thanksgiving Weekend

Black Friday

Economy

Inflation

Railroads

Supply Chain

Thanksgiving

U.S.

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/black-friday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black Friday</a> revenues topped previous records despite elevated <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/inflation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inflation</a> and other <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">economic</a> tensions, according to <a href="https://business.adobe.com/resources/holiday-shopping-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from Adobe Analytics.
Businesses earned $9.1 billion in revenues on Black Friday, according to the computer software company’s business product. Americans are slated to spend $210 billion this season, exceeding the $205 billion spent in 2021 and the $188 billion spent in 2020. Among the most popular Black Friday products were Apple Macbook computers and the Xbox Series X console, while shoppers could expect the best average discounts for computers, appliances, and televisions.
Purchasing activity during the holiday shopping season has continued to expand every year since the lockdown-induced recession, although growth rates are expected to fall from 32% in 2020 and 8.6% in 2021 to 2.5% this year.
Another <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rise-in-holiday-spending-to-be-outpaced-by-inflation-forecast-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estimate</a> from the National Retail Foundation concluded that overall holiday retail sales in the United States are expected to grow between 6% and 8% since last year to possibly surpass $960 billion. “While consumers are feeling the pressure of inflation and higher prices, and while there is continued stratification with consumer spending and behavior among households at different income levels, consumers remain resilient and continue to engage in commerce,” National Retail Federation CEO Matthew Shay said in a <a href="https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-predicts-healthy-holiday-sales-consumers-navigate-economic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>. “In the face of these challenges, many households will supplement spending with savings and credit to provide a cushion and result in a positive holiday season.”
Although the higher revenues could surpass the 4.9% annual increase typically seen over the past decade, the expansion will be largely eclipsed by inflation, which increased year-over-year at a 7.7% rate as of last month, according to a <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rising price levels also impacted families preparing Thanksgiving meals, which have risen 20% in cost since last year, according to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/amber-waves-of-pain-thanksgiving-dinners-will-be-20-more-expensive-this-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from the American Farm Bureau Association.
Winners from the critical Black Friday shopping push include Lululemon, Victoria’s Secret, and American Eagle, according to an <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/black-friday-retail-winners-and-losers-175200841.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">investor note</a> shared by Morgan Stanley, while losing brands include Hollister and Banana Republic. Successful firms garnered the attention of shoppers by maintaining assortments that resonated with consumers.
Real average hourly earnings had declined 2.8% year-over-year as of last month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, implying that many Americans are utilizing savings and credit schemes, such as buy-now-pay-later solutions, during the present holiday season. Boston Consulting Group indeed said in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-black-friday-is-different-this-year-because-of-record-inflation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> that as many as 47% of customers are “already spending their savings on day-to-day expenses” and 20% “expect their disposable income to deteriorate in the next six months.”
Approximately 39% of respondents to a survey published by the consulting firm will “buy more at discounters or value retailers,” while 51% plan to “cut back on nonessential purchases” and 48% may “go out less to save money.” The majority of respondents expressed an intent to participate in Black Friday and said they would more strongly emphasize bargain hunting.
The United States was the only developed country evaluated by Boston Consulting Group to increase spending despite economic woes. German and French shoppers were forecasted to spend 15% less, while their counterparts in the United Kingdom will spend 18% less as soaring <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-winter-will-be-bad-for-energy-prices-now-the-real-concern-is-next-winter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">energy prices</a> induced by low renewable power output and the Russian invasion of Ukraine scourge the continent’s economy.

Shoppers fill Long Island mall on Black Friday

Black Friday Breaks Revenue Record As Consumers Endure High Inflation

Black Friday Sees Increase In Spending From Last Year

Business

Consumers are entering the biggest shopping day of the year wary of higher <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/price-levels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">price levels</a> and the future of the global <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">economy</a>.
Inflation is casting an ominous shadow on <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/black-friday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black Friday</a>, on which retailers offer highly discounted prices to usher in the beginning of the holiday shopping season. According to an <a href="https://www.bcg.com/publications/2022/black-friday-2022-impacting-brands-retailers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">analysis</a> from Boston Consulting Group, the vast majority of consumers in the United States, Europe, and Australia foresee elevated inflation remaining for a “long time,” predict that the economy will “get even worse” over the course of the next year, and are concerned about rising prices for “essentials” such as food and energy.
“Consumption habits are changing as a result, with shoppers cutting back on nonessential purchases, going out less to save money, and turning to lower-quality items,” the analysis said. “Bargain hunting has become a more continuous activity, as consumers have become more accustomed to checking price tags and looking for discounts over the past few months.”
Approximately 39% of respondents to a Boston Consulting Group survey will “buy more at discounters or value retailers,” while 51% will “cut back on nonessential purchases” and 48% will “go out less to save money.” The majority of respondents nevertheless intend to participate in Black Friday and will more strongly emphasize bargain hunting.
Citizens in every nation examined by Boston Consulting Group plan to reduce their spending on Black Friday, with the exception of the United States, where residents are expected to spend 6% more than last year. German and French shoppers will spend 15% less, while their counterparts in Australia and the United Kingdom will spend 18% less.
Holiday retail sales in the United States are expected to grow between 6% and 8% since last year to possibly surpass $960 billion, according to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rise-in-holiday-spending-to-be-outpaced-by-inflation-forecast-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from the National Retail Federation. Although the growth appears to surpass the average 4.9% annual increase witnessed over the past decade, the expansion will be mostly eclipsed by inflation, which rose year-over-year at a 7.7% rate as of last month, according to a <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“While consumers are feeling the pressure of inflation and higher prices, and while there is continued stratification with consumer spending and behavior among households at different income levels, consumers remain resilient and continue to engage in commerce,” National Retail Federation CEO Matthew Shay said in a <a href="https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-predicts-healthy-holiday-sales-consumers-navigate-economic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>. “In the face of these challenges, many households will supplement spending with savings and credit to provide a cushion and result in a positive holiday season.”
Boston Consulting Group indeed found that as many as 47% of customers are “already spending their savings on day-to-day expenses” and 20% “expect their disposable income to deteriorate in the next six months.”
Amazon and FedEx recently revealed efforts to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/two-critical-companies-will-lay-off-furlough-employees-during-holiday-shopping-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dismiss workers</a> ahead of the holiday season, which is typically a busy time for companies involved in the sale and transportation of consumer goods. The former company introduced layoffs in human resources, retail, and devices divisions. Firms in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/another-tech-company-announces-massive-layoffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">technology sector</a> and the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/entertainment-giants-and-media-companies-announce-massive-layoffs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entertainment industry</a> have likewise announced significant layoffs in an attempt to minimize costs.
Despite a rise in economic output during the third quarter, the United States previously met the rule-of-thumb definition of a recession, two consecutive quarters of negative growth, as output contracted at a 1.6% annualized rate in the first quarter and a 0.6% pace in the second quarter.

Shoppers Flock To Stores For Black Friday Deals

How Black Friday Is Different This Year Because Of Record Inflation

Recession

Amazon experienced a “record-breaking” Thanksgiving weekend as other retailers struggled.
According to a <a href="https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/customers-drove-record-breaking-black-friday-through-cyber-monday-sales-on-amazon">blog post</a> from the company, the period between Black Friday and Cyber Monday saw high degrees of consumer activity in categories such as toys, apparel, and electronics:
<blockquote>Customers discover savings on Amazon during the holiday season—and every day. According to a recent study from independent analyst firm Profitero, Amazon had the lowest prices by an average of 14% compared to all major retailers across every category coming into the holidays.
Amazon is proud to make customers’ holiday celebrations easier by offering a wide selection of incredible deals and low prices with convenient delivery and pick-up options. Amazon also looks forward to delivering smiles through the rest of the holiday season and beyond. The holiday season — and every day of the year at Amazon — is made possible by our employees, delivery drivers, in-store staff, and the nearly two-million small and medium-sized businesses among our independent selling partners who continue to deliver a great shopping experience for our customers around the world.</blockquote>
Despite Amazon’s apparent success, other retailers lagged, according to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/30/amazon-touts-record-sales-amid-weak-start-to-holiday-shopping-season.html">CNBC</a>: 

<blockquote>U.S. shoppers spent $10.7 billion on Cyber Monday, according to data from Adobe Analytics, marking a 1.4% decline from year-ago levels. Black Friday online sales also fell slightly short of last year’s total, with retailers recording $8.9 billion in sales, Adobe said.
While shopping at physical stores rose substantially from last year, when the pandemic kept consumers glued to the couch, traffic was down 28% from 2019 levels, according to preliminary data from Sensormatic Solutions.</blockquote>
Citing another study, CNBC added that Amazon alone captured 17.7% of Black Friday dollars. More details about Amazon’s sales will be made public in the firm’s fourth-quarter earnings report, due for release early next year.
Despite its success in the retail space, Amazon has been accused of censoring conservative-leaning products. 
In September, the Heritage Foundation <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/amazon-temporarily-censored-advertisement-for-new-book-critical-of-black-lives-matter">announced</a> that Amazon pulled promotions for the book “BLM: The Making of a New Marxist Revolution” — a deep-dive by Heritage Senior Fellow Mike Gonzalez into the Black Lives Matter movement.
Amazon told Heritage that the book “no longer complies with our current Creative Acceptance Policies,” because: “Your ad contains book/s or content that is not allowed. Content that revolves around controversial or highly debated social topics is not permitted. Please remove this content from your ad.”
After Heritage officials appealed, Amazon <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2021/09/16/amazon-reverses-ad-ban-for-book-investigating-blm-cites-inaccurately-enforced-policies/">reversed</a> its decision, claiming that it had not properly enforced its own policies.
Meanwhile, a book version of Nikole Hannah-Jones’ “1619 Project” reached the top of Amazon’s bestseller list before its release. The New York Times journalist’s arguments, however, have been widely <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pulitzer-prize-awarded-to-creator-of-widely-derided-1619-project-from-the-new-york-times">denounced</a> by historians who argued that it lacks nuance and ignores necessary context regarding the United States’ struggle with slavery.
“I was disturbed by what seemed like a very unbalanced, one-sided account, which lacked context and perspective on the complexity of slavery, which was clearly, obviously, not an exclusively American institution, but existed throughout history,” Pulitzer-Prize winning author and Princeton University history professor James McPherson explained.

Baby2Baby 10-Year Gala Presented By Paul Mitchell – Arrivals

Amazon’s Black Friday Weekend Sales Soar As Other Retailers Struggle

Amazon

On Black Friday, more Americans shopped online as many retailers battled labor shortages and supply chain issues.
Overall, consumers purchased between $8.8 billion and $9.2 billion online, compared with $9.03 billion a year ago, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/black-friday-shopping-is-back-but-the-door-busters-arent-11637922601">The Wall Street Journal</a>. Meanwhile, the National Retail Foundation predicted that roughly 158.3 million people would shop over Thanksgiving weekend — 2 million higher than last year, but short of the 165.3 million people who shopped in 2019.
The Wall Street Journal added:
<blockquote>Many stores stayed closed this Thanksgiving, in a break with a pre-pandemic tradition of opening Thursday evening. Retailers have moved away from doorbusters, the deeply discounted items available for a limited time that drew hordes of shoppers to stores on Friday morning. Instead, they have been dangling Black Friday deals all month, both online and in stores. Some hosted streaming events on their websites on Friday as an alternative to visiting a store.</blockquote>
As <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/26/business/holiday-shopping-stores.html">The New York Times</a> explained, economic bottlenecks — such as labor shortages and the supply chain crisis — were experienced firsthand by consumers and retailers alike:
<blockquote>But hallmarks of a changed season remain. Many stores were closed on Thanksgiving and holiday hours at certain malls and chains will be shortened, in part because of a national labor shortage. And many people are bracing for a dearth of products like popular toys as “supply chain issues” becomes the refrain of 2021. There are also those customers who will stay away from stores, based on new habits adopted during the pandemic or ongoing concerns about the virus, and opt to shop online or using curbside pickups.</blockquote>
To prevent staff shortages, Target is attempting to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/target-gives-bonuses-goes-on-hiring-spree-to-prevent-worker-shortage-ahead-of-holidays">hire</a> 100,000 employees while offering $2 per hour bonuses to sales representatives who work during the weekends preceding Christmas. Likewise, the company is offering $2 per hour bonuses to supply chain workers. Walmart is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walmart-bypasses-supply-chain-crisis-sees-revenues-rise">seeking</a> 150,000 additional workers as well.
Due to virus fears and the accelerated shift toward online shopping, many consumers avoided visiting stores — a scenario that worried many retailers. The New York Times continued:
<blockquote>People are much more likely to make purchases when they’re at a store than while browsing the store’s website, said Meredith Darnall, senior vice president in the retail division of Brookfield Properties, which oversees more than 130 malls. “The ability to touch and see and talk to somebody about the product is real. They also have add-on sales — you come in for the T-shirt, you’re likely to buy the denim.” Adding to the appeal of in-store shopping for retailers, she said, is the fact that return rates are much higher for e-commerce purchases, especially in apparel and shoes.</blockquote>
Beyond retail, the stock market <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-what-the-black-friday-carnage-may-mean-for-the-stock-markets-trade-monday-analysts-say-11638021516">witnessed</a> its worst Black Friday since 1931 amid concerns over the Omicron COVID-19 variant, which the World Health Organization declared a “variant of concern.” The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 2.53%, while the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq Composite fell by 2.27% and 2.23%, respectively.

Apple IPhone 13 Shortage In Canada

Black Friday Sees More Online Shopping As Retailers Battle Labor Shortages, Supply Chain Disruptions

A Home Depot in Lakewood, California, was the latest business to be victimized by a rash of “flash mob” smash-and-grab robberies currently going on throughout the state.
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department told <a href="https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2021/11/27/group-of-men-steal-tools-from-lakewood-home-depot/">CBS 2 LA</a> that employees reported a group of between 8 and 20 people, between the ages of 15 and 20 years old, entering the Home Depot in the Lakewood Center Mall at around 7:45 p.m. on Friday. The suspects reportedly arrived in 10 cars, put on ski masks, and stole sledgehammers, hand hammers, and crowbars. The group then fled the scene in the cars. One car was described as a red Mercedes with severe damage to the front.
CBS 2 later reported that four suspects had been arrested in possible connection with the robbery. Beverly Hills Police received a call about several vehicles driving with no license plates around 9 p.m. Friday, according to the outlet. Officers responded, pulling over one of the vehicles and arresting the suspects.
“We’re currently working with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to see if there is a link to the Lakewood Home Depot incident or any other crimes that have been committed,” Beverly Hills Police Sergeant Jeff Newman told CBS 2.
The robbery was one of several attacks that took place around the country on Black Friday. A mall in North Carolina was evacuated after three people were shot at around 3:23 p.m. Friday afternoon, The Daily Wire reported. Among the reported victims was a 10-year-old boy with non-life-threatening injuries, and two other victims in unknown condition. Three others were injured during the evacuation, but those injuries were considered non-life-threatening as well, police said. One suspect was taken into custody, while two more are still at large.
A group of about 20-30 people also attacked a Best Buy store in Minneapolis around 8 p.m. Friday night, stealing an unknown amount of merchandise, then fleeing before the police could arrive. No arrests have been made, according to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/robbers-swarm-best-buy-minnesota-black-friday-theft/">CBS News</a>. Another Best Buy in nearby Maplewood was also attacked.
The state of California has been reeling from the rash of “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/experts-mocked-after-saying-california-crime-spree-isnt-looting-but-rather-organized-robbery">organized retail crime</a>” in recent weeks, with groups of people breaking into stores, smashing merchandise displays, and grabbing as much merchandise as they can before fleeing the scene. A group of thieves stole more than <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/thieves-hit-california-apple-store-make-off-with-20000-worth-of-loot-in-brazen-daytime-robbery">$20,000</a> from an Apple store in Santa Rosa, about 50 miles from San Francisco. Another mob attacked a Nordstrom luxury outlet in the Los Angeles area, assaulting a security guard with an unknown chemical and making off with at least seven luxury handbags. Last weekend, mobs robbed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mobs-rob-three-san-francisco-area-stores-in-three-days">three different stores</a> in the San Francisco Bay Area in a span of three days.
Former Philadelphia Police Commissioner <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-philly-pd-commissioner-california-looting-spree-wont-be-stopped-will-spread-across-the-country">Charles Ramsey</a> told CNN Thursday that he believed the thefts would eventually spread across the country. “This is something now that I really unfortunately think is going to spread,” Ramsey said, as reported by The Daily Wire. “Right now it’s in California, but it will spread, there’s no question about it.”

Home Depot

California Home Depot Latest Store To Be Robbed Amid Black Friday Crime Spree

California

Robbery

Theft

A mall in North Carolina was evacuated on Black Friday after a shooting occurred on the second floor.
ABC News <a href="https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/north-carolina-mall-evacuated-black-friday-shooting-person-81411091?utm_source=facebook&amp;utm_medium=news_tab">reported</a> that three people were shot in the Southpoint Mall in Durham, North Carolina, around 3:23 p.m.
“The shooting victims included a 10-year-old who suffered a bullet ricochet injury that appears to be non-life-threatening, police said. The conditions of the other two shooting victims are unknown,” the outlet reported. “Additionally, three people suffered non-life-threatening injuries while evacuating the mall, police said.”
The Durham Police Department (DPD) put out a statement on Twitter regarding the incident:
<blockquote>DPD is investigating a shooting incident at The Streets at Southpoint. The mall is being evacuated and will be closed while DPD investigates the incident. Motorists are advised to avoid the area. There is no further threat at the mall.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
DPD is investigating a shooting incident at The Streets at Southpoint. The mall is being evacuated and will be closed while DPD investigates the incident. Motorists are advised to avoid the area. There is no further threat at the mall.
— DurhamPoliceNC (@TheDurhamPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDurhamPolice/status/1464358680728592386?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>The DPD further reported that one person has been taken into custody, but others involved in the shooting are still on the loose. The police department added that those involved apparently knew each other, so this “did not appear to be a random incident.”
More from ABC:
<blockquote>Shoppers recounted people running and screaming after hearing multiple gunshots.
&#8220;There were people being trampled, going up and down the escalator,&#8221; Aleaha Marr, who was shopping with a friend at the mall at the time of the shooting, told ABC Raleigh station WTVD.
&#8220;I&#8217;ll never come back to this mall again. I know that much,&#8221; she told the station. &#8220;The holidays, people should be happy for what they have. You shouldn&#8217;t be worrying about other people shooting other people.&#8221;</blockquote>
As The Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/11/26/mall-shooting-black-friday/">reported</a>, homicides are on the rise in major cities, and gun violence incidents have risen in Durham this year. From the Post:
<blockquote>Homicides rose in 29 major U.S. cities through September compared with the same period last year, according to the <a href="https://counciloncj.org/event-recording-collaborative-approaches-to-reducing-community-gun-violence/">Council on Criminal Justice</a>, a Washington-based institute. Killings across the country spiked nearly 30 percent in 2020, the FBI has said.
According to data from Gun Violence Archive, an independent data collection and research group, Durham has seen 154 gun violence<a href="https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/query/4af7a715-d492-4410-812f-3fc7b29260b0"> incidents</a> this year as of Friday evening — leaving 39 dead and 140 people injured. Last year, 36 people died and 152 were wounded in the 156 <a href="https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/query/4af7a715-d492-4410-812f-3fc7b29260b0">recorded</a> incidents.</blockquote>
Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/gun-violence-sends-black-friday-shoppers-scurrying-north-carolina-washington-2021-11-27/">reported</a> that across the country in Kennewick, Washington, a security officer shot a man suspected of attempted theft.
“The shooting occurred when the suspect, confronted as he was leaving the store, pointed a gun at the officer. The officer then drew his own weapon and opened fire at the suspect, who fled the scene but was arrested at a nearby home, according to police,” Reuters reported. “The suspect, taken to an area hospital for treatment of his wounds, was already wanted on nine outstanding warrants and now faces additional robbery and assault charges, police said in a statement. No one else was injured at the Walmart. Local media reported the shooting stirred panic at the discount store, which was evacuated and closed immediately after the incident but reopened hours later.”

Luke Kuechly for Mizzen+Main at Nordstrom Streets at Southpoint

Mall Evacuated After Black Friday Shooting; Three People Shot

Crime

North Carolina

Shooting

Due to the hectic year, Walmart announced that it would remain closed on Thanksgiving, breaking its tradition of opening on the holiday to get a head start on Black Friday deals.
In <a href="https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2020/07/21/walmart-invests-428-million-more-in-associates-with-another-special-bonus-totaling-1-1-billion-in-special-bonuses-so-far-this-year">a statement</a> released on Tuesday, Walmart announced that its stores and Sam’s Club stores would be closed on Thanksgiving.
“We know this has been a trying year, and our associates have stepped up. We hope they will enjoy a special Thanksgiving Day at home with their loved ones,” said John Furner, President and CEO of Walmart U.S. “We are certainly thankful to our people for all of their efforts.”
At the same time, Walmart announced that all store, club, distribution center, and fulfillment center associates would receive another round of bonuses to help them through the pandemic.
“Our associates have been working at an incredible pace, they’ve solved problems, and they’ve set an amazing example for others,” Furner said. “To further appreciate their incredible work, we are pleased to share another special cash bonus this summer.”
The bonuses amount to $300 for full-time hourly associates and $150 for part-time hourly and temporary associates. Bonuses will also be paid out to drivers, managers, and assistant managers, though an amount was not specified. The total amount in bonuses will cost the company $428 million.
Walmart makes about $14.7 billion a year in profit, <a href="https://moneynation.com/how-much-money-does-walmart-make/">according to Money Nation</a>.
The company said that this was the third bonus given to associates in 2020, which have totaled more than $1.1 billion.
“Since the beginning of this pandemic, I’ve been so proud to see how our associates have pulled together to take care of each other and our members,” said Kathryn McLay, President and CEO of Sam’s Club. “These are extraordinary times, and our associates have lifted each other up in extraordinary ways, and we are so grateful.”
Walmart has made the news throughout the year for its response to the coronavirus pandemic. As The Daily Wire has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walmart-to-go-on-massive-hiring-spree-give-special-bonus-to-hourly-workers-during-coronavirus-outbreak">previously</a> <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walmart-announces-another-huge-round-of-hirings-amid-coronavirus-crisis">reported</a>, the national chain has at least twice announced a massive hiring spree since the pandemic began, even as historic numbers of Americans filed for unemployment.
“Amid historically high weekly unemployment claims – some 22 million over the course of  just four weeks since most of the nation went on ‘lockdown’ – Walmart has done its part to give struggling Americans work. In just one month, the company has announced a total of 200,000 new positions,” The Daily Wire wrote in late April. “After filling 150,000 new positions that opened up last month, citing continued ‘strong demand’ at its stores, the retail giant announced in a statement posted on its corporate website on Friday that it is committed to hiring another 50,000 employees, most of them temporary, by the end of May.”
The company also made national news when it became one of the first stores in the country to change the shopping experience to fight coronavirus, The Daily Wire’s Eric Quintanar <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walmart-other-stores-announce-changes-to-the-shopping-experience">reported</a> in early April.
“Beginning on Saturday, April 4, Walmart locations will begin limiting the amount of people inside of a given store at one time. The number of people allowed in a store will be determined by the location’s square footage, with a maximum of five people allowed per 1,000 square feet of store space,” Quintanar reported. “In addition to the new limit on customers, Walmart stores will also start directing movement throughout the store, beginning next week, to limit the amount of time shoppers interact with other people.”
Most stores have since adopted these or similar practices.

Walmart

Walmart Ends Black Friday Tradition Of Opening Stores On Thanksgiving, Will Remain Closed

COVID

The number of background checks on gun purchases for Black Friday reached the second highest total in history, indicating that gun sales on Black Friday reached their second-highest total for any day in history. On Black Friday, the FBI ran 202,465 checks. As AP <a href="https://www.journalgazette.net/news/20191204/background-checks-for-guns-nears-record">noted</a>, the numbers of background checks “remain the most reliable method of tracking the industry.”
AP added, “By the end of November, more than 25.4 million background checks – generally seen as a strong indicator of gun sales – had been conducted by the FBI, putting 2019 on pace to break the record of 27.5 million set in 2016, the last full year President Barack Obama was in the White House.”
Professor Adam Winkler of UCLA commented, “As we´re coming up upon another presidential election, Donald Trump is vulnerable, and the Democratic presidential contenders are falling all over themselves to propose more aggressive gun reforms than their opponents.”
Mark Oliva, spokesman for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which represents the gun industry, <a href="https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2019-12-03/background-checks-on-gun-purchases-on-pace-to-break-record">added</a>, “Americans are choosing to invest their hard-earned dollars in their ability to exercise their rights and buy the firearms they want before gun control politicians attempt to regulate away that ability.” He told <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/money/black-friday-gun-background-checks-second-highest-history">Fox Business</a>, “This tells us Americans are voting with their wallets when it comes to their ability to exercise Second Amendment rights. Interestingly, Americans are turning out to buy the firearms they want in increasing numbers even as politicians on the national stage and in some states are increasingly vocal on restricting Second Amendment rights.”
Fox Business added, “<a href="http://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/nics_firearm_checks_-_month_year.pdf/view">Data</a> from the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System shows the agency performed 2.4 million background checks for potential gun purchasers in October 2019, which is the highest number of checks recorded by the agency for that month. The second-highest recorded year for October’s background checks was 2016, when 2.3 million checks were conducted.”
<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/11/25/fbi-background-checks-rise-amid-mass-shootings-calls-gun-control/4228725002/">USA Today</a> noted, &#8220;For the first time since the bureau began conducting checks in 1998, the number of monthly checks has not fallen below 2 million this year.&#8221;
<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/heres-2020-democrats-differ-gun-control/story?id=62970498">ABC News</a> delineated the leading Democratic presidential candidates’ positions on guns, noting Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), former Obama administration Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg support a national gun licensing program. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) would require all gun owners to acquire a license through the federal government.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) wants to expand background checks, end the “gun show loophole” and ban the sale and distribution of “assault weapons.”
As for the current leader, former Vice-President Joe Biden, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/02/joe-biden-gun-violence-2020-018358">Politico</a> noted:
<blockquote>Biden wants to ban the sale and manufacture of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Assault weapons that are already owned by the public would be regulated under the National Firearms Act, similar to regulations for machine guns and silencers. He also wants to launch a federal buyback program for those who opt not to register their weapons with the National Firearms Act. Online sales of guns would be banned. Background checks would also be required for all gun purchases, though some rare exceptions could be made for gifts between close family members.</blockquote>

USA – North Dakota – Gun store

Gun Sales Reach Second Highest Total Ever On Black Friday, Reports Say

Guns

Black Friday may be rough for many shoppers forcing their way through crowds to find great deals, but for Thanksgiving Day shoppers in Birmingham, Alabama suburb Hoover, the event turned into a whole other kind of nightmare.
As hundreds gathered for pre-Black Friday sales Thursday evening, a gunman opened fire at the Riverchase Galleria. At 9:52 p.m. CT, shoppers began reporting gunshots as hundreds fled from the mall. The Hoover Police Department told news outlets, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/authorities-kill-gunman-alabama-mall-police-say-n939396">including NBC</a>, that the Jefferson County Sheriff&#8217;s Office was conducting an investigation into the shooting, which appears to have started after a fight in the mall. Hoover Police Capt. Gregg Rector said a man pulled a gun after a fight and shot an 18-year-old man twice in the torso. A 12-year-old girl was also injured during the incident. Rector said the girl was alert and talking despite her injury.
Witnesses told <a href="https://www.wvtm13.com/article/possible-shooting-at-the-riverchase-galleria-in-hoover/25279403">NBC affiliate WVTM</a> they heard as many as 10 gunshots.
Police arrived at the scene and saw another teenager fleeing the scene. &#8220;One of our Hoover officers did engage that individual, shot him and he is dead on the scene,&#8221; Rector said. Sadly, the man who was shot by police is no longer believed to have been the original gunman. The deceased was Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr. He was 21 years old and police now say that while he &#8220;may have been involved in some aspect of the altercation,&#8221; evidence determined he was likely not the shooter. The real gunman is still at large.
Bradford&#8217;s father told the Associated Press Saturday night that his son <a href="https://www.star-telegram.com/news/nation-world/national/article222125955.html">had a permit to carry a gun</a>. He also said it was hurtful to see his son portrayed as the shooter.
&#8220;Unfortunately, an individual lost his life. Unfortunately, one of our police officers had to engage that individual,&#8221; <a href="https://www.wvtm13.com/article/hoover-mayor-on-deadly-shooting-at-riverchase-galleria-mall/25284735" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato said during a press conference the night of the shooting.</a> &#8220;He did so as a professional. He did so at the risk of his own life. But he stepped in to protect thousands, and I&#8217;m grateful for that.&#8221;
Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis <a href="http://www.wvtm13.com/article/hoover-police-chief-says-he-s-very-very-proud-of-officers-response-to-mall-shooting/25287864">also had praised the police response</a>, saying he was &#8220;very, very proud&#8221; of how officers handled the situation.
&#8220;From the time that shooting took place, they engaged and it was safe within seconds that it happened,&#8221; Derzis said. &#8220;You don&#8217;t see that too often. So very, very proud of that.&#8221;
The officer has since been placed on administrative leave as the shooting is investigated.
&#8220;We are devastated by the incident that happened last night in our shopping center,&#8221; Lindsay Kahn, a spokesperson for the retail group who owns the mall, said the day after the shooting. &#8220;We are working closely with the Hoover Police Department and are grateful for their swift action to contain the situation.&#8221;
The mall reopened at 6 a.m. for Black Friday.
WVTM posted cell-phone footage taken from a shopper during the incident showing patrons running from the gun shots. Watch below:
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Police Kill Suspect In Thanksgiving Day Shooting. There’s Just One Problem.

Alabama

Nutella is good. But is it shove-old-ladies-out-of-the-way good?
In some French grocery stores, yes, yes it is.
Intermarché supermarkets in France were scenes of chaos Thursday as customers competed for 70% discounts on the chocolate hazelnut spread. The grocery chain cut Nutella prices from &#8364;4.50 to &#8364;1.40, or about $5.60 to $1.74.
Shoppers pulled, punched, shoved, and used all means at their disposal to take advantage of the &#8364;3.10-per-jar discount.
A viral <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lesmoutonsrebelles/videos/1179486722154843/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">video</a> reminiscent of a Black Friday gone wrong showed dozens of people pushing each other as they frantically grabbed Nutella jars from crates set on the floor. One shopper told <a href="http://www.leprogres.fr/france-monde/2018/01/26/quand-le-prix-des-pommes-subventionne-le-nutella" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Le Progres</a> newspaper, &#8220;They are like animals. One woman had her hair pulled. An elderly lady took a box on her head. Another had a bloody hand. It was horrible.&#8221;
An Intermarché staffer in Moselle said shoppers piled in and &#8220;knocked everything over and broke stuff. It was an orgy.&#8221;
Le Parisien <a href="http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/intermarche-une-promotion-sur-le-nutella-vire-presque-a-l-emeute-dans-plusieurs-magasins-25-01-2018-7522050.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a> that police were called to multiple Intermarche locations to break up fistfights.
The <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5312737/Nutella-70-sale-sparks-riots-French-supermarkets.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Daily Mail</a> said customers at an Intermarché in Saint-Cyprien &#8220;pounced&#8221; on an employee as he was carrying a crate of Nutella to the shelves. An Intermarché in Montbrison, meanwhile, limited the number of jars per customer to three. Store manager Jean-Marie Daragon said that &#8220;700 pots flew off the shelves in just 45 minutes.&#8221;
Ferrero, the Italian maker of Nutella, criticized Intermarché for offering the doorbuster discount, and said it &#8220;deplores this operation and its consequences, which create confusion and disappointments in the mind of consumers.&#8221;
Intermarché said in a statement that it regrets the &#8220;disagreeable events customers suffered.&#8221;
Consumers worldwide buy hundreds of millions of pounds worth of Nutella per year &#8212; over 800 million pounds in 2013.
This may have been Intermarché&#8217;s last nutty discount, and not just because of Thursday&#8217;s chaos. The day prior, France&#8217;s agriculture minister announced a new bill that would cap promotional food discounts at 34%.

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WATCH: Doorbuster Nutella Discount Sparks “Orgy” Of Chaos At French Supermarkets

Capitalism

France

Italy

Like Mad Max entering the Thunderdome, Americans shopping on Black Friday know that in order to snag that beautiful 65 inch 4K TV for only $799, they must enter the savage land of retail outlets.
Here are this year&#8217;s funniest, saddest, weirdest, and worst (depending on how you look at it) Black Friday tweets:
<div class="embed tweet">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Live look at every store in the United States right now&#8230; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlackFriday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlackFriday</a> <a href="https://t.co/dqnk4QH0sZ">pic.twitter.com/dqnk4QH0sZ</a>
&#8212; IGN (@IGN) <a href="https://twitter.com/IGN/status/934104328482127873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Would be nice if there was a Black Friday deal on things that matter&#8230; like college tuition
&#8212; Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanAFournier/status/934193621208895488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Seeing all these Black Friday deals and then realising I have no money to spend <a href="https://t.co/WQEigM9Ask">pic.twitter.com/WQEigM9Ask</a>
&#8212; J-SH (@justyusha) <a href="https://twitter.com/justyusha/status/933955488349392896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Don&#8217;t forget our Black Friday Deal: 90% off all lighting fixtures and shelving units.
&#8212; The Last Blockbuster (@loneblockbuster) <a href="https://twitter.com/loneblockbuster/status/934157268836339712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Black Friday&#8230;DingDing <a href="https://t.co/IBayDbbyRG">pic.twitter.com/IBayDbbyRG</a>
&#8212; Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/barstoolsports/status/934154028539359232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Attn Customers: SCV Sheriff&#8217;s WILL NOT be offering any Black Friday deals on traffic citations. Drive responsibly. <a href="https://t.co/9RrWt0ObUU">pic.twitter.com/9RrWt0ObUU</a>
&#8212; SCV Sheriff (@SCVSHERIFF) <a href="https://twitter.com/SCVSHERIFF/status/934183461388148737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
People on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/blackfriday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#blackfriday</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/seinfeld?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#seinfeld</a> <a href="https://t.co/VkFmn7MWaY">pic.twitter.com/VkFmn7MWaY</a>
&#8212; costanzagrams (@costanzagrams) <a href="https://twitter.com/costanzagrams/status/933898337937477632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
This why I online shop on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlackFriday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlackFriday</a> <a href="https://t.co/fNBm5lfGAh">pic.twitter.com/fNBm5lfGAh</a>
&#8212; OgLando (@Lando2xx) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lando2xx/status/934093206156922882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlackFriday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlackFriday</a> Expectation vs Reality <a href="https://t.co/yuBcDCtgc6">pic.twitter.com/yuBcDCtgc6</a>
&#8212; Andrea Feczko (@AndreaFeczko) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndreaFeczko/status/934195018994200576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
This is EXACTLY how i picture black friday! <a href="https://t.co/BkXu3mjFN9">pic.twitter.com/BkXu3mjFN9</a>
&#8212; Jeiku Anime Review (@JeikuReview) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeikuReview/status/934160053183139840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
</div>
Meanwhile, in Canada and the United Kingdom:
<div class="embed tweet">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
So Black Friday&#8217;s a bit tamer in the UK than it is in the US. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlackFriday2017?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlackFriday2017</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlackFriday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlackFriday</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ykf1tdlw2h">pic.twitter.com/Ykf1tdlw2h</a>
&#8212; Dragon Gaming (@DragonGamingDG) <a href="https://twitter.com/DragonGamingDG/status/934088793111572481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
How Canada does door crasher <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlackFriday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlackFriday</a> sales. This is so Canadian it hurts lmao <a href="https://t.co/MkMPUoDW8m">pic.twitter.com/MkMPUoDW8m</a>
&#8212; Cause We&#8217;re Canadian (@MadelnCanada) <a href="https://twitter.com/MadelnCanada/status/934112677063933952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
</div>
Did you get what you wanted this year?

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