More Consumers Shopped Online Than in Stores on Black Friday 2024

Retail observers presented conflicting data on whether in-store traffic was up or down compared with the previous year.

Shoppers look for deals on 'Black Friday' at a shopping mall located in Temecula, Calif., on Nov 29, 2024. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Black Friday isn’t what it used to be.

According to U.S. retail industry analysis published before and after Nov. 29, online sales and traffic far exceed in-person activity as more consumers choose to stay home and shop online. More retailers also spread out their discounts over a longer period than they did in the past.