Black Friday, the economic environment and the evolution of America's retail holiday

On November 29, American shoppers will rush to malls and retail stores for the day known as "Black Friday," the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. Falling annually on the Friday after Thanksgiving, the event generates billions of dollars for the U.S. economy, topping out last year at $9.8 BILLION. In addition to the end-of-week bargains, the discounts and deals now extend to the weeks before and after Black Friday, growing the potential for revenue.