This year’s Black Friday expected to be the most expensive yet

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — As millions of Americans visit family for Thanksgiving next week, Black Friday looms on the horizon.  

Despite a lot of holiday deals and sales shifting online, the day after Thanksgiving remains the single busiest day for shopping in the US. 

Americans are expected to spend more than $10 billion dollars this year online and $20 billion shopping in-person.  

Stacey Keating with CBL Properties—the company that owns Mayfaire Town Center in Wilmington—says there’s a lot that shoppers prefer about visiting in-person.

“You get the instant gratification of walking out with your item that you went in looking for, you know it fits, you know the quality of it, and you’re less likely to have to return it when you buy it in store,” Keating. 

Though, not everyone is convinced. Some shoppers like Susan Testerman hope to avoid the holiday crowds.   

“We give cash to all our grandchildren, so we don’t buy a lot of gifts, but usually online,” Testerman said. 

Others like Jill Rollinson are reserving the date for big ticket items.  

“We bought appliances and things like that cause we know you get good deals on Black Friday,” Rollinson said. 

According to a National Retail Federation report, on average Americans are expected to spend a record $902 this year on holiday shopping.