- Saiful Islam, 21, a New York accounting student
Retail sales in the world's biggest economy may be boosted in the last months of this year, as around 147 million people will stand in queues at the shopping frenzy known as Black Friday. The National Retail Federation expects U.S. retail sales to add 4.1% during the November-December holiday period this year, however, less than the 5.6% increase in the same period a year ago. In the meanwhile, online shopping on Thanksgiving soared 17.4% compared to the previous year, while the number of purchases from the mobile devices rocketed 18.3% on yearly basis.
"I think spending is better for the economy. I think you should spend. If you save all your money that will only make it worse," said Saiful Islam, 21, a New York accounting student who stood in line at Best Buy to purchase a variety of gadgets. "The line is bad, but the deals are good."
"I definitely have more money this year," said Amy Balser, 26, at the head of the line outside the Best Buy store in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. "I definitely don't think (the economy) has bounced back anywhere near as much as it needs to, but I see some improvement," she said.
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