A 34-year-old temporary holiday worker died under a stampede of 2,000 discount hungry Wal-Mart shoppers [1] yesterday. Witnesses described crowds at the Long Island, NY, Wal-Mart as savages; shoppers busted down doors and cut each other in line. Other shoppers, including a pregnant woman, were rushed to the hospital.

Not every store saw a surge, violent or not, in shopping. In anticipation of lower than usual performance, retailers took a hit in the stock market [2], as company shares dipped on Friday. But regardless of tough economic times, foreign shoppers vacationing in the US came out in significant numbers to take advantage of bargains compounded by a favorable exchange rate. Some speculate that tourists could save the holiday shopping season this year [3].

Did you brave the stores yesterday for Black Friday, or are you waiting for less chaotic Cyber Monday?

Source [4]