In protest of the Ferguson grand jury’s decision to not indict Officer Darren Wilson for the shooting death of Michael Brown, there is talk online of not participating in Black Friday sales. Some will argue that will have little impact if you simply buy the items on Saturday or another day, but if enough shoppers decide to sit out this big shopping day it could demonstrate their buying power.
Usually slow Black Friday sales are seen as a sign of a slow economy and a disappointing retail holiday season ahead. This year, some experts are suggesting the opposite. They see it as a possible sign consumers believe the economy is getting better.
History suggests that in a good economy, consumers have less of a reason to rely on deep discounts, says Kathy Grannis, a spokeswoman for the National Retail Federation.
“The difference between a $4 toaster and a $15 toaster isn’t that significant for a lot of Americans,” Grannis says. “But if you really are pinching pennies and you’re watching your budget, you might head out for that $4 toaster [on Black Friday].”
