Black Friday kicks off as inflation-burned shoppers scour for deals… American customers are madder than ever… Anti-Trump chart accidentally becomes pro-Trump evidence

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Black Friday sales are well underway, with inflation-fatigued consumers looking to snag markdowns on everything from pantry and toiletry staples to jackets, makeup and gaming consoles.

Although predawn lines and door busters are largely a thing of the past as sales stretch for months, Black Friday still kicks off a weekend that delivers steep discounts. And sales are especially important for consumers this year as grocery, housing and energy costs continue to climb — not to mention tariffs driving up prices for prime gift categories, including apparel, TVs and toys.

“Black Friday represents to the consumer the time when they feel that everybody’s got their best deals out there,” said Marshal Cohen, chief retail adviser at market research firm Circana. “This year — probably even more than last year — the consumer is looking for good deals. They need them.”

Will Auchincloss, who leads EY-Parthenon’s Americas retail sector, noted that most of that spending growth will reflect higher prices, not consumers buying more than last year: “We expected that to be about two-thirds, based on price, and one-third on volume, roughly,” he said. “So it’s really expected to be a modest holiday season for the sector.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/black-friday-kicks-off-as-inflation-burned-shoppers-scour-for-deals/ar-AA1Rkaaa

It has never been easier to buy stuff. But dealing with product and service problems has never felt so difficult, consumers say.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/american-customers-are-madder-than-ever-b9de4b54