NEW YORK — Black Friday no longer tempts people to leave Thanksgiving tables for midnight mall runs, but the annual sales event still brings more shoppers into stores than any day of the year and still rules as the U.S. retail industry's unofficial start of the holiday shopping season.

What You Need To Know

Black Friday bargains no longer tempt people to leave Thanksgiving tables for midnight mall runs, but the annual sales event still brings more shoppers into stores than any day of the year

This year's traditional kickoff to the holiday shopping season comes as consumer confidence in the U.S. economy fell this month in the aftermath of the federal government shutdown, weak hiring and stubborn inflation

Many retail executives have reported customers becoming more selective with their

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