Black Friday breaks records for sales and technology

Black Friday was set to break records this year, and until now, he's done it – in-store and online.

According to Adobe Analytics, cyber sales alone reached $ 6.22 billion at the end of Friday. That's nearly a quarter of sales more than last year, when shoppers spent just over $ 5 billion on Internet purchases, Adobe said.

While total sales are not yet due in part to the fact that some retailers are extending their Black Fridays throughout the weekend, Mastercard (TM) reports that the store holidays have been "robust" and include total expenses. $ 23 billion.

According to the National Retail Federation, nearly 116 million people are expected to shop yesterday. If the number is correct, it will also beat the record of last year 's purchase.

But it's not just the amount of spending by buyers this year that exceeds last year's shopping vacation. That's how they spend their money.

Black Friday was also a massive day for smartphone purchases. According to Adobe Analytics, the phones cost about $ 2 billion. More customers also ordered online and picked up at the stores.

Many retailers have prepared for the trend of real-world and virtual shopping, while mega-merchants like Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT) are coordinating their apps, technology, websites and traditional sales strategies. . Target, for example, allows staff to scan products and accept credit cards from any store, and Walmart used a similar verification system, while allowing customers to search for purchases. in-store with a special Black Friday card on the Walmart app for smartphones. Many retailers also offered free delivery or in-store pickup.

According to experts, such strategies can also reduce crowds in stores, which may explain why stories about in-store chaos are less apparent than in the past. The main reporting of violence occurred Thursday night in an Alabama shopping mall in which two people – including a child – were reportedly injured in a shootout. Police killed a suspect who later turned out not to be the gunman, who would still be on the run, according to reports.

Alabama has been ranked among the 5 most dangerous places on Black Friday, according to a survey by Reviews.org.