I found this 2009 Black Friday spending analysis chart very telling:

• Foot traffic for 2009 was up substantially.
• In 2009, shoppers spent ~14% less than 2008, and nearly equivalent to 2007 Black Friday consumption.
• Foot traffic is up 33% in just 5 years.

I’m curious, though:

1. Did Black Friday shoppers show up just for the advertised bargains and see through the upsell advertisements? I’ve noticed that financial and consumerism websites/blogs, as well as the 6 o’clock news, are beginning to publicize the upsell tactics more than ever.
2. Did consumers buy just a few items and focus on value or thoughtfulness? When you don’t have as much cash, you have to get as much bang for your buck as possible. Could shoppers be trying to get maximum value for their money?
3. How much has credit limit reductions/eliminations adversely affected consumer spending? Not like I’m going to complain about fewer folks spending less (or borrowing less to spend on “stuff”), but I’m curious how much people will spend on the holidays when they have to rely on their cash reserves and reduced credit limits.

Considering that credit card usage accounts for a significant portion of holiday spending, and even high credit score users have had their credit limits reduced (thanks Discover Card!), I’m curious if Americans have become temporary value shoppers, have altered their consumerism habits, or just simply can’t afford that much this year?

Got any ideas? What does the Black Friday spending chart say to you?

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