HPU Poll Suggests Black Friday, Thanksgiving Shopping Trends Changing

The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally one of the biggest shopping days of the year. But a new High Point University Poll says a majority of North Carolinians will avoid shopping on Black Friday.

Researchers found that 75 percent of North Carolinians don't plan on shopping Black Friday. An even higher number of respondents, 77 percent, will be staying out of the stores on Thanksgiving Day.

Many respondents also say they're not happy about businesses that require employees to work on the holiday.

HPU political science professor Martin Kifer says even though folks aren't going out, most people say they'll spend the same amount of money on the holidays this year, compared to last year.

“People are split about half and half between those who say they will be doing more shopping in brick and mortar stores and those who say they will be doing more online,” says Kifer. “And this year, we find about a quarter of people say they are actually going to spend more than they did last year.”

Kifer says on average, the poll found $1,088 will be spent on gifts, food, decorations and other holiday items.

The telephone poll consisted of 469 North Carolina adults surveyed from Nov. 10 through Nov. 16. It has a margin of error of 4.5 percent.

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