Quiet Black Friday As Sales Shift Online

Shops saw a slow start to Black Friday today with no sign of a repeat of the chaotic scenes last year when bargain hunters battled for the best deals. Many were instead turning to the web for bargains, with online shoppers expected to spend £1bn in a day for the first time. The Centre for Retail Research anticipates total Black Friday sales, including at high street stores, will reach £1.39bn - and climb to £3.49bn with the proceeds from the weekend and Cyber Monday.