No reference (I'm still looking for it) but recently read an article about how retailers are looking forward to a prosperous Black Friday/Black Monday. This got me to thinking: how do they know? Sales to date have been lackluster, especially in the lower half of the K economy, the events haven't taken place, and in recent years, this weekend often tends to be followed by a significant drop in sales because everyone who could bought when prices were lowest.
Amazon, Fedex, and UPS all announced massive layoffs recently, with their drivers taking at least a significant chunk of that. If you expect online retail sales to be high, you don't cut your drivers a week before the busiest sales period of the year. Shipping volume has dropped dramatically, there are no Tickle Me Elmos capturing the imagination, and almost everything seems to be based on anecdotal evidence at shopping malls in wealthy neighborhoods.
Seems to me like this is yet another campaign to convince the buying public that they have to buy now because the stores will be picked clean if you wait, an is very likely wishful thinking.
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