Based on data from Mastercard and other providers, your statement about Black Friday spending in U.S. retail stores being muted this year with a more robust rise online is accurate. Here's a more detailed breakdown of what happened on Black Friday in 2024:

Key Findings:

* Overall Spending Increased: According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, U.S. retail sales excluding automotive rose by 3.4% year-over-year on Black Friday (November 29, 2024) compared to Black Friday 2023. This indicates that Ameri