Black Friday Sees Fewer Shoppers in Stores as Spending Moves Online

Black Friday Sees Fewer Shoppers in Stores as Spending Moves Online
People shop during a sales event on Thanksgiving day at Walmart in Westbury, N.Y., on Nov. 28, 2019. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
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Fewer people lined up outside stores as Black Friday shopping kicked off, suggesting early discounts offered by retail chains and a surge in online buying may have taken the shine off America’s biggest shopping day.

Spot checks on the ground showed there were fewer shoppers this year as retail chains started offering discounts earlier than usual to make up for a shorter holiday season this year.