CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The holiday shopping season is in full swing with heavy traffic expected even after Black Friday, according to the West Virginia Retailers Association.
“Very good deals will continue between now and the end of the December for the consumer,” said Bridget Lambert, president of WVRA.
Lambert said consumers spent about $335, on average, during the Black Friday holiday shopping weekend. About $257 of that was spent on gifts they were giving someone else.
Consumers spent their money on things other than gifts, too, she said.
“Not only were they out shopping for gifts for other people, they were spending money on gas, eating out and so it was a productive retail holiday weekend,” Lambert said.
Overall, consumers had “more confidence” in purchasing items right now, which was “a relief” to retailers in West Virginia, she said.
There is an extra weekend for holiday shopping this year.
More people are turning to online shopping. Lambert said this past Cyber Monday was “the largest online shopping day that the retail industry has ever had.”