Overall, Black Friday retail sales weren’t too bad, as shoppers sought deals on all sorts of products, focusing on computers (especially netbooks, if Consumerist readers are any indication), flat-panel televisions, and Snuggies. Sales were up slightly over last year nationwide, especially in the western United States, and online sales were up 35% over Black Friday 2008.

The decrease in the Northeast was likely not due to any kind of economic malaise, but the rainy weather.

Retailers registered about $10.66 billion in sales Friday, up 0.5% from a year ago, according to a report Saturday from sales and traffic tracking firm ShopperTrak.

Regionally, the firm said year-over-year Black Friday sales rose 4.7% in the West, increased 1.3% in the Midwest, edged up 0.6% in the South, but declined 4.9% in the Northeast, where there was rain in many sections.

Brisk Snuggie sales may seem unusual, but the blankets were on sale at Kmart for a low, low $9.99. Just don’t put them in the dryer.

Early shopping tally: Some gems, some coal [CNN Money] (Thanks, humphrmi!)
Black Friday Crowds Grab Discounted Flat-Panel TVs, Computers [Bloomberg News]

(Photo: kevinspencer)

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