Department store J.C Penney was one of the first major chains to kick-off the sales offering huge discounts

A man in Tennessee suffered a gunshot wound after shots were fired at a mall in Memphis on Thursday

The shooting occurred at the Hamilton Mall in South Jersey as people lined up outside for shopping deals

Demond Cottman, 21, was shot dead and his 26-year-old brother, Shadi Cottman, was wounded in a shooting outside a Macy's store in New Jersey early Friday morning

One suspect was taken into custody, and another person of interest was detained after the shooting

A heavy police presence remained on the scene, and there were reports that shoppers had been evacuated

At least two more people were shot in Tennessee after chaos broke out about 4pm at Hamilton Place Mall

The alleged shooter, 21-year-old Telles Juarez, then attempted to escape from police for about 15 miles

Man was shot at a Walmart in San Antonio after he shouted at a man who was allegedly attacking a woman

A heroic Good Samaritan who tried to break up a domestic violence incident has been killed outside a mall


A Good Samaritan who tried to break up a domestic violence incident outside a shopping center has been shot dead during Black Friday madness, in the latest incident of shoppers turning violent across the country during the record-breaking sales day.

The unidentified man was killed when a gunman opened fire on fire while sat in his car in the parking lot of a Walmart in San Antonio, Texas, about 4pm local time.

Telles Juarez, 21, allegedly was grabbing a woman by the hair and punching her inside his car, when the Good Samaritan shouted from his car to let the woman go.

Juarez then reportedly opened fire on the man, hitting him in the neck, KSAT reports. He was pronounced dead at the scene, but is yet to be identified.

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Telles Juarez (pictured), 21, allegedly shot dead a Good Samaritan who tried to break up a domestic violence incident outside a shopping center in San Antonio on Black Friday

San Antonio police investigate the scene of a shooting in the WalMart parking lot about 4pm on Black Friday in Texas

The unidentified man was killed when a gunman opened fire on fire while sat in his car in the parking lot of a Walmart in San Antonio, Texas, about 4pm local time

The 21-year-old allegedly fired multiple shots, one of which struck another woman who was near the scene. She was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Juarez then fled the scene and attempted to evade police, but a helicopter followed him for about 15 miles before he was stopped and arrested.

He has been charged with aggravated murder.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus paid tribute to the hero Good Samaritan who was killed.

'You have to give credit to the man for being willing to intervene,' McManus said.

'Unfortunately, this man was too eager to shoot.'

Juarez shot at the car and hit the man allegedly after he had been seen grabbing a woman by the hair and punching her

A man appears to be seen slumped in the driver seat of a car surrounded by officers after a shooting in a Walmart parking lot in San Antonio

Police officers stand next to the car where a Good Samaritan was shot dead, allegedly after trying to break up a domestic violence incident

The unidentified man was killed when a gunman opened fire on fire while sat in his car in the parking lot of a Walmart in San Antonio, Texas, about 4pm local time

It comes after two more people were shot outside a mall in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where chaos broke out about 4pm. People were told to evacuate the Hamilton Place Mall after at least one victim was rushed away in an ambulance.

It comes after two more people were shot outside a mall in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where chaos broke out about 4pm. People were told to evacuate the Hamilton Place Mall after at least one victim was rushed away in an ambulance. 'You have to give credit to the man for being willing to intervene," McManus said. "Unfortunately, this man was too eager to shoot.

The shooting reportedly took place outside of a Sears store. Chattanooga Police confirmed it took place after a fight broke out, WRCB reports.

The latest shooting took place at a mall in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where chaos broke out about 4pm. People were told to evacuate the Hamilton Place Mall after at least one victim was rushed away in an ambulance, WTVC reports.

Hamilton Place Mall tweeted a statement shortly after 4:30pm.

Another shooting has taken place during Black Friday shopping, with the latest incident outside a mall in Chattanooga, Tennessee (pictured)

A heavy police presence was seen in the Sears parking lot (left) after the shooting, and an ambulance rushed at least one person to hospital (right)

Chattanooga Police tweeted a statement about the shooting shortly after it took place on Friday outside the Hamilton Place Mall

'We are aware of an incident at the mall and are working closely with local law enforcement as they continue their investigation,' the statement read.

Another statement was issued just after 5pm that read: 'Hamilton Place Management is working with police during its ongoing investigation of an incident that occurred in the Sears parking lot. Sears and J.C Penney are currently closed. The mall however is open.'

A local sheriff who had been at the mall when the shooting took place posted an account of what went down on social media.

'Wow, me and Tenille are walking out of Sears at Hamilton Place Mall and shots are being fired...not what you want to see or hear walking to your car.... shooter surrounded at the scene,' Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson wrote on Facebook.

A local sheriff who had been at the mall when the shooting took place posted pictures of the scene on social media

'Wow, me and Tenille are walking out of Sears at Hamilton Place Mall and shots are being fired...not what you want to see or hear walking to your car.... shooter surrounded at the scene,' Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson wrote on Facebook

In one of the pictures posted by the local sheriff, it appeared as though a man on a stretcher could be seen being wheeled towards an ambulance

He also shared a series of pictures taken at the scene, with some showing armed officers outside the store.

It comes after at least four people were reported to have been shot on Friday morning, with two of those being killed.

Shoppers appear to have largely stayed away from the madness in retail stores this year, instead opting to venture online for the best post-Thanksgiving pre-Christmas deals.

But the opening of stores late on Thursday evening invited chaos and trouble early on, with several shootings in mall parking lots. Footage inside stores such as Walmart and Target also captured tense shopping scenes.

As Black Friday madness kicked off, video apparently recorded inside a Walmart in Bainbridge, Georgia, showed shoppers fighting over towels that were on sale for $1.60 during the early Black Friday rush on Thursday

At one point, one woman so eager to get her hands on some towels was seen falling into the box, shown above

Meanwhile, shoppers broke into an all-out melee at a Walmart in Houston on Black Friday, as customers battled it out for some $99 kiddie convertibles

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN SHOPS OPENED ON THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING? A man was shot dead and his brother was wounded at a Macy's store in New Jersey during an early morning shooting on Friday A person was shot dead in a road rage incident in a Walmart parking lot in Reno, Nevada on Thursday night A man suffered a gunshot wound after shots were fired in Memphis, Tennessee on Thursday around 11.15pm Video emerged showing people fighting over everything, including towels worth just $1.60 Online sales are expected to hit $3billion for the first time ever as an increase in mobile shopping may bring in a record-breaking $1billion alone President-Elect Donald Trump even got in on the act, with his website offering a sale on campaign goods First lady Michelle Obama kicked off the Obamas' final White House Christmas by receiving the official White House Christmas tree at the White House Advertisement

In New Jersey, the shooting outside a Macy's department store that left one man dead occurred around 1am on Friday at the Hamilton Mall in Mays Landing as people lined up outside the mall for door-buster deals.

Demond Cottman, 21, of Atlantic City was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene.

His 26-year-old brother Shadi Cottman from Clayton, was shot in the leg and listed in stable condition at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center.

Officials did not immediately say what sparked the shooting or if they had any suspects.

Demond, who was married, was also a new father, a college student and a standout athlete, his family told the Press of Atlantic City.

He had previously graduated from basic training from the U.S. Air National Guard in 2014, his family said.

At a mall in California, a crowd was seen gathering around two men as they appeared to exchange blows during Black Friday shopping

Many on lookers were seen watching as several other fights broke out in front a sign that was advertising 'hundreds of deals for under $10'

One shopper who was at the scene and has been coming out for Black Friday shopping for the last ten years said the shooting was sad, adding that Black Friday is 'getting scary now,' according to CBS Philly.

More than 15 evidence markers were laid down in the parking lot and an SUV with bullet holes was towed away around 7am on Friday.

The Macy's store had opened at 5pm on Thursday before the mall closed at midnight and reopened to shoppers at 6am.

Meanwhile in Nevada on Thursday, a person was shot dead what was believed to be a road rage incident in a Walmart parking lot in Reno, police said.

The shooting occurred around 6pm at the Walmart on East Second Street after there was apparently a dispute over a parking spot, according to KOLO.

Police and the FBI are investigating the Thanksgiving shooting as authorities search for a dark-colored Toyota Camry or Corolla that was driven by a driver described as a light-skinned black male.

Police believe the 33-year-old man who was killed may have been armed with a stick or a bat and hit a car before the shooting, Reno police Lt. Sean Garlock said.

The shooting did not appear to be related to shopping, authorities said.

The vehicles and gun have been recovered. Nevada law does not require a concealed-weapons permit for guns kept inside a vehicle, Garlock said.

In Tennessee, a man suffered a gunshot wound after shots were fired at Wolfchase Galleria Mall in Memphis on Thursday around 11.15pm as shoppers were looking to score Black Friday deals at the mall.

One person has died in a shooting outside of a Macy's department store in New Jersey on Friday morning

The shooting outside a Macy's store occurred during the early hours on Friday outside the Hamilton Mall in South Jersey as people lined up outside for shopping deals

The mall in New Jersey was scheduled to open at 6am and dozens of shell casings were found scattered around a silver SUV plastered in bullets in the parking lot of the mall

Demond Cottman, 21, of Atlantic City was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene of the New Jersey shooting. He was married and was also a new father, according to local reports. He is pictured above with his family

The incident occurred in the parking lot outside the food court area after witnesses said a suspect fired several shots and then fled in a Ford Mustang, according to WREG.

Initial reports indicated no one was injured but a man showed up at Baptist Memorial Hospital with a gunshot wound.

Three suspects are now in custody and officers have since collected shell casings from the scene.

Between 2006 and 2014, there have reportedly been seven deaths and 98 injuries during Black Friday shopping.

The shootings in New Jersey and Nevada occurred as shoppers eager to bag a bargain began their spending sprees as some stores across the U.S. kicked off their sales on Thursday afternoon.

Cellphone footage from various stores showed shoppers fighting over items in a bid to score shopping deals.

In Nevada on Thursday, a person was shot dead in a road rage incident in a Walmart parking lot in Reno, police said (scenes from the shooting shown above)

In Tennessee, a man suffered a gunshot wound after shots were fired at Wolfchase Galleria Mall in Memphis on Thursday around 11.15pm as shoppers were looking to score Black Friday deals at the mall (scene from the shooting above)

The incident occurred in the parking lot outside the food court area after witnesses said a suspect fired several shots and then fled in a Ford Mustang

In video apparently recorded inside a Walmart in Bainbridge, Georgia, showed shoppers fighting over towels that were on sale for $1.60 during the Black Friday rush on Thursday.

At one point, one woman so eager to get her hands on a towels that she fell into the box.

Meanwhile, shoppers at a Walmart in Houston broke into an all-out melee on Black Friday, as customers battled it out for some $99 kiddie convertibles.

On Friday, most stores opened their doors around 6am for what is still one of the busiest days of the year, even as the start of the holiday season edges ever earlier.

Some stores, including Sears, Bass Bro Shops, Dick's Sporting Goods and Bealls opened as early as 5am while stores such as Hobby Lobby and some Nordstrom locations had a later start at 8am.

Scenes from when a fight broke out a mall in Modest, California are shown above. Two young people are seen fighting as tempers flare during Black Friday

The chaotic scenes from the Modesto mall fight showed several young people engaging in the fight just around midnight on Friday

Many stores are offering the same deals as in previous years, like $19.99 boots that remain a big attraction, cashmere sweaters, and sheets. For some shoppers, big discounts on electronics are the draw.

Stores like Macy's, Walmart, Target and more were open on Thursday evening in what they hope will be a new holiday tradition and closed for the night before reopening on Friday.

Several shoppers were out looking for bargains on TVs. Other items that drew crowds were cellphones and Hatchimals — eggs with a small, animated animal inside that hatch when given attention.

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, vies with the Saturday before Christmas as the biggest sales day.

On Friday, online sales are forecast to top $3billion for the first time ever, hitting $3.05billion in online revenue, up 11.3 per cent from the last year, according Adobe Digital Insights.

Preliminary data from Adobe shows Black Friday online sales on US retailers' websites have raked in an estimated $490 million between midnight and 8.30am ET, according to USA Today.

Black Friday is also forecast to be the first day in retail history to top $1billion in mobile revenue as a result of mores shoppers using their smartphones and tablets.

Shoppers take advantage of Black Friday sales at a Target store in the Brooklyn, New York on Black Friday

Hunter Harvey, 2, helps his dad, C.J., wheel a big screen TV at Target on Black Friday in Wilmington, Massachusetts

People shop at Macy's department store during the Black Friday sales on Friday in New York

Two young children are seen standing outside a store as people walk by during Black Friday sales in New York on Friday

Trash and shoes are scattered across a Bloomingdale's in New York City on Friday as a man is pictured using his phone in the shoe department of the store

As shoppers snagged deals online on one of the most crucial shopping days of the year, Macy's wrestled with some technical issues on its website leaving some customers frustrated.

Though early afternoon, many visitors to the site saw 'Temporary shopping jam.'

Macy's had a 10-second countdown to get to the site, though the delay often ran longet than that.

'We are still taking a high volume of online orders, and we are working quickly to alleviate the delay issue which we hope to have resolved shortly,' the company said.

Shopper Dana Sari finished all of her holiday shopping online on Friday morning, but she and her mother kept to their decades-old tradition of spending Black Friday together.

As shoppers snagged deals online on one of the most crucial shopping days of the year, Macy's wrestled with some technical issues on its website leaving some customers frustrated

They arrived at the relatively quiet MacArthur Center mall in downtown Norfolk, Virginia, shortly after 8am where each bought a coffee and sat near a Nordstrom.

Sari, 43, a neuropsychologist who lives in Norfolk, says it's not so much about the consumerism as it is the quality time with her mother during the holiday season.

She prefers buying gifts from online catalogues and boutique retailers rather than larger corporations, which she says value her less as a customer, she said.

Also on Friday, Wall Street extended its gains in thin trading, with the three main indexes hitting record intraday highs, helped by gains in consumer staples and technology stocks.

The stock markets closed early for Black Friday, while trading volumes were thin.

The three major indexes closed higher for the third week in a row, extending their rally since the U.S. election - the S&P 500 marked its seventh record close since November 8.

However, the defensive consumer staples and utilities sectors have been the worst performers in that period.

The consumer staples sector gave the S&P 500 the biggest boost on Friday, closing up 0.79 per cent, led by gains in Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola.

On Black Friday morning, crowds were thin at U.S. malls and stores.

In the New York and Chicago areas, shoppers said stores were less busy than previous years on the day after the Thanksgiving holiday.

'Nobody was busting down the doors at 6am,' said Tracy Watkins, a Bed, Bath and Beyond store manager at the Chicago Ridge Mall, as temperatures outside lurked below freezing.

'I've been here on other Black Fridays and it was bad, but I guess this year because of the hours it's not bad. Really calm,' said shopper Lauren Green, who was in line outside a Zara clothing store in the Roosevelt Field Mall on Long Island east of New York at 5.20am.

BLACK FRIDAY INTERNET SALES MAY SURPASS $3 BILLION Online spending in the US climbed to more than $1 billion by Thanksgiving evening, a surge of 14 per cent from last year. Early data indicates that Black Friday online sales on US retail sites brought in $490 million between midnight and 8.30am, according to Adobe Digital Insights. Black Friday online sales may hit $3.05 billion in online revenue for the first time ever, which is an 11.3 per cent increase over last year. Mobile shopping could also exceed $1 billion in revenue for the first time ever. The National Retail Federation (NRF) says online spending over the three-day bonanza will reach an eye-watering $8.4 billion. Black Friday sales 2015: Consumers spent $1.73 billion online on Thanksgiving last year, according to the Adobe Digital Index. Shoppers also spent $2.74 billion online on Black Friday, an increase of 14.3 per cent over 2014. There were $905 million in mobile sales, representing 33.2 per cent of all sales compared with 27 per cent in 2014. Nearly $3.07 billion was spent online on Cyber Monday, a 16 per cent increase from 2014, with 26 per cent of sales — $799 million — originating from mobile devices. Source: Adobe Digital Insights and National Retail Federation Advertisement

Shoppers ride escalators during Black Friday sales at the Uniqlo Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan, New York on Friday

New York Police use tape to prohibit people crossing against the lights during Black Friday sales along Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan, New York on Friday

A family looks at Apple products during Black Friday sales at a Best Buy store in Los Angeles, California on Black Friday

A woman puts a television product in her cart during Black Friday sales at a Best Buy store in Los Angeles, California on Black Friday

Shopper Julie Singewald's Black Friday started at 4am at a Twin Cities outlet mall.

By 6am, she and her two teenage daughters made it to the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Singewald said she was merely the vehicle — 'and sometimes the credit card' — as her daughters hunted for deals and worked on their shopping lists. Increasingly, the 44-year-old is doing more of her shopping online.

'I'm a point-and-click person,' she said. 'If it were up to me, I would be in my pajamas and on my computer at home.'

After what appeared to be a strong turnout for Thanksgiving sales, some early morning reports indicate that traffic to malls may be slower on Black Friday than last year as retailers spread the deals out throughout the week.

'It was a really good start. But I have never seen Black Friday morning so calm,' said Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at NPD Group, a market research firm, who visited malls on Long Island on Friday.

He still believes the weekend's sales will likely be up over last year because shoppers did lots of buying, including pricey flat-screen TVs.

Shoppers wait for doors to open at Walmart in Dartmouth, Massachusetts on Black Friday as stores opened their doors on Friday

A group of people tough out the chilly weather in Dartmouth, Massachusetts as they wait for a Walmart to open on Friday

A group of hearty shoppers wait in line for doorbuster specials at 6.30am on Friday at Best Buy in New York's Union Square

But long before people got through the doors in stores on Thursday, more than one-billion had already been spent online.

By Thanksgiving evening, online spending by U.S shoppers had climbed to $1.13 billion, according to Adobe Digital Index, surging almost 14 per cent from a year ago.

Target Corp said on Thursday it had seen one of its 'strongest days ever' online, while Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the largest bricks-and-morter retailer in the United States, said Thanksgiving Day was 'one of the of the top online shopping days of the year.'

The deepest average discounts for Black Friday came from leading online retailer Amazon.com Inc, with an average of 42 per cent off, compared with 33 per cent off on Walmart, 35 per cent on Target and 36 per cent on Best Buy, according to e-commerce analytics firm Clavis Insight.

President-elect Donald Trump also stepped into the online sales excitement.

Belinda Wallace walks bast a shelve of Shopkins at the Toys R Us store in Winchester, Virginia on Black Friday

Families browse past printers at a Best Buy store in Los Angeles, California during Black Friday sales

Shoppers walk inside a Macy's store during Black Friday events in New York City on Friday

On Friday morning, Trump's online store announced it was offering a 30 per cent-off deal on all campaign products, including a $149 Christmas ornament.

'President-elect Trump loves a great deal,' a promotional email said.

For years, Black Friday has started the holiday shopping season in the United States with retailers offering steep discounts.

But its popularity has been on the wane with the emergence of online shopping and cheap deals through the year from retailers.

'There will be continuing dominance in online sales today as consumers increasingly realize they will get the same deals in-store and online,' said Brent Schoenbaum, a partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP. Schoenbaum, who was out visiting stores in Glendale, California, said customer traffic in-store remained subdued.

'It used to be very busy, but for the past two years the mornings are not very crazy,' said Gina Reynolds, a 39-year-old housewife who was shopping at a Macy's store in the Water Tower Place Mall in Chicago.

A crowd of shoppers line up for Black Friday shopping at Best Buy in Glendale, Arizona on Friday

A crowd of shoppers are seen walking in front of a Macy's store in New York City on Black Friday

Shoppers pay for their purchases during Black Friday sales at a Best Buy store in Los Angeles, California on Friday

A taxi trunk is full of shopping bags after a shopper made numerous purchases at Bloomingdale's in New York

Crowds were also relatively thin at other retailers in the mall, including department store J.C. Penney and apparel seller Abercrombie & Fitch.

During the Thanksgiving weekend, 151 million Americans reportedly do their holiday shopping in store or online, spending an average of $299.60 each.

In Rhode Island, shoppers who arrived after sunrise at the Garden City outdoor shopping mall in Cranston said they were glad their state — along with Massachusetts and Maine — doesn't let retailers open on Thanksgiving Day.

'I don't like the idea of it,' said Lauren Glynn. 'I feel bad for the people who have to work.'

She and her husband, who are restaurateurs, came to the Cranston mall for fun, to soak up the experience and maybe find a few deals, but they said they plan to do most of their gift shopping online and at locally owned shops where they live in Bristol, Rhode Island.

Sam Glynn said it's at local shops where they will look for 'cool knives and glassware, things that have meaning.'

People wait with purchases at Macy's Herald Square during the Black Friday sales in Manhattan, New York on Friday

A woman enters the subway carrying purchases from Macy's Herald Square store during the Black Friday sales in Manhattan, New York on Friday

A man compares headphones while holding a Best Buy ad featuring doorbuster deals as shoppers browse items at a Best Buy on Friday in Skokie, Illinois

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which started its Black Friday sales on Thursday at 6pm, said shoppers were embracing technology products.

Steve Bratspies, chief merchandising officer at Walmart's U.S. division, said in addition to Black Friday favorites like televisions and toys, they were looking for drones, virtual reality products and hoverboards.

Walmart started its online sale just after midnight on Thanksgiving, three hours earlier than last year. It reported on Friday that 70 per cent of the traffic to its website came from mobile devices.

Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren told The Associated Press that store traffic has been encouraging on Black Friday, adding that shopper numbers have been strong at its flagship store on Friday morning.

Lundgren said clothing sales have been good, with sportswear, dresses and even social occasion fashions doing well.

Shoppers have their hands full as they try to grab the best deals at Best Buy on Black Friday in Dartmouth, Massachusetts on Friday

Joseph Rebelo grabs the television he waited in line for as he and fellow shoppers look for the best deals at Best Buy on Friday in Dartmouth, Massachusetts

However, he's hoping for some cold weather to help fuel more sales of winter items.

Lundgren believes that the rising stock market will help shoppers' mood.

Jeff Gennette, president of Macy's who will become CEO early next year, believes there was pent-up demand after the contentious presidential election was over. He says consumers can now focus on other things.

Leah Olson was at Mall of America Friday morning, following some Thanksgiving night trips to Target and a local mall.

Olsen said she had done some online shopping, but preferred making in-person stops.

'I always like to walk, go to the mall,' said the Chanhassen, Minnesota resident. 'I just like shopping.'

Meanwhile in Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker declared Friday as Green Friday as his administration is encouraging people across the state to buy their Christmas trees, holiday plants and wreaths at local farms.

Customers are shown here waiting in line to purchase their electronics during the Black Friday rush on Friday at Best Buy in Skokie, Illinois

Black Friday shoppers are seen perusing the store for door-buster deals at Best Buy in Skokie, Illinois on Friday

A worker pushes a large television as shoppers browse items at a Best Buy store on Friday in Skokie, Illinois

Fresh from Thanksgiving festivities, people shop at Macy's department store on Friday in New York

Massachusetts' nursery industry helps drive the economy and residents can make a difference by shopping for garland and other seasonal decorations at farms, farmers' markets, roadside stands and nurseries instead of big box stores, Baker said.

The holidays create hundreds of seasonal jobs at the state's nearly 400 Christmas tree farms, the state Department of Agriculture said, adding the sector generates $1.4 million each year.

People had camped out in tents outside some Best Buy stores on the Thursday, including one in Utah where the temperatures plummeted to below-zero, while others raced through the doors at J.C. Penney.

The department store kicked off its sales at 3pm on Thursday - hours before some people sat down around the table for Thanksgiving dinner.

A woman leaves from the Macy's department store in New York on Friday with her Black Friday shopping

A woman sits in Herald Square with bags of shopping during Black Friday sales in Manhattan, New York on Friday

The National Retailers Foundation says online spending over the three-day bonanza will reach an eye-watering $8.4billion.

The NRF's annual holiday shopping forecast expects $3.05billion on Black Friday and $3.36billion on Cyber Monday - which would mean it is the biggest shopping day of all time.

Other forecasters project overall holiday spending will rise by 3.6 per cent - which would be a bigger jump that the average seen over the past seven years.

If spending does increase by the predicted amount, 690,000 new seasonal jobs will be created, according to the NRF.

It comes after it was revealed retailers have braced for a massive holiday rush this year.

This weekend is crucial to set the tone for the holiday season.

Around 137 million people plan to or are considering doing their shopping during the Thanksgiving weekend, according to a survey conducted for the National Retail Federation.

That includes online and store shopping. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, vies with the Saturday before Christmas as the busiest shopping day of the year.

Black Friday shoppers are seen walking into a Best Buy store on Friday in Skokie, Illinois

A shopper carries a big-screen smart television at a Best Buy store on Friday in Skokie, Illinois

WHAT ARE THE BEST BLACK FRIDAY DEALS? Want to save time shopping around by heading to the store with the best Black Friday deals? Look no further, as DailyMail.com has identified some of the great savings available. Amazon 32-inch 720p LED TV - $70 32-inch 720p Smart TV - $125 Up to 60 per cent off toys from Disney, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, and Barbie Best Buy 49-inch LED TV with built-in Chromecast - $200 (Reduced from $450) Blu-ray movies - $7.99 Up to 60 per cent off video games Sharp 55-inch 1080p LED Smart TV - $250 (Reduced from $500) Dick's Sporting Goods Selected Nike and Under Armour clothes and gear - Reduced by 25 percent Selected cardio machines - Reduced by 50 percent Selected hoodies and fleeces - Reduced by 50 percent Kmart Christmas decorations - Reduced by 50 percent Selected DVDs and movies - $1 Macy's Men's down coats - Reduced by 75 percent Samsonite luggage - Reduced by 60 percent Nine West handbags - Reduced by up to 70 percent Target 50-inch Hisense 4K UHD TV - $250 iPad Air 2 - $274 (Reduced from $400) Powerbeats 2 Wireless Earphones - $90 (Reduced from $200) Walmart Selected video games - $8 Samsung Chromebook 3 - $119 Selected DVD and Blu-ray movies - $2 Advertisement

The NRF, the nation's largest retail group, expects holiday sales to rise 3.6 per cent to about $656 billion for November and December mainly due to rise in online shopping, better than the 3 per cent growth seen for those months last year.

That excludes car sales, gas and restaurant receipts but includes online spending and other non-store sales such as catalog spending.

Consumer confidence rose by 8.4 points from October to 85.2 in November - the biggest gain within a month since December 2011, according to the University of Michigan's final reading of consumer sentiment for November.

'The upsurge in favorable economic prospects is not surprising given Trump's populist policy views, and it was perhaps exaggerated by what most considered a surprising victory as well as by a widespread sense of relief that the election had finally ended,' Richard Curtin, University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers chief economist told Bloomberg.

With increased confidence in job security, wage growth and soaring markets, shoppers are planning to spend, spend, spend over the holidays.

They also estimate that holiday sales will grow 3.6 percent on last year - bringing a $630.05 billion boon to the economy.

'You will see a bump in spending this year because this election was so close, so highly contested, and so dramatic no matter which candidate you supported,' Marshal Cohen, retail analyst with NPD Group, told Business Insider.

The predictions are in line with results of a recent survey by ForeSee revealed most Americans are planning to spend the same or more during the holiday season than in the run up to the election.

While it could be expected that Trump supporters would be driving the spending frenzy on a wave of optimism after their candidate won, the survey reveals that 20 per cent of Democrats plan to spend more in the coming weeks.

WHEN IS BLACK FRIDAY 2016? WHAT TIME DO SALES START AT STORES ACROSS THE COUNTRY? Best Buy: Sales begin at 5pm, Thursday, November 24 Dick's Sporting Goods: Sales begin at 6pm, Thursday, November 24 Home Depot: Sales begin at 6am, Friday, November 25 J.C. Penney: Sales begin at 3pm, Thursday, November 24 Kmart: Sales begin at 7pm, Thursday, November 24 Macy's: Sales begin at 5pm, Thursday, November 24 Target: Sales begin at 6pm, Thursday, November 24 Toys R Us: Sales begin at 5pm, Thursday, November 24 Walmart: Sales begin at 6pm, Thursday, November 24 Advertisement

That is double the percentage of Republicans who plan to up their spending.

Cohen added: 'Half the country is going to be happy, so they are going to go out and spend, and half is going to be very distraught and disturbed - and one way to get out of that slump is to distract themselves by going to stores.'

With so much air time dedicated to the election over the past year, retailers will also get the chance to air their holiday advertising.

Meanwhile, shoppers who had been holding back over concerns about what the results could mean to the economy have been pleasantly surprised.

Big department stores, such as Macy's and Khol's are expecting a strong holiday spending period.

'Things that are distracting like the election, once there's an outcome, certainty is a good thing,' Kohl CEO, Kevin Mansell said. 'So from a positive perspective, having certainty on that is probably a good thing looking into the holiday.'

The consumer expectations index of the survey rose by 8.4 points from October to 85.2 - the biggest gain within a month since December 2011, according to he University of Michigan's final reading of consumer sentiment for November

Marvin Ellison, J.C. Penney Co. Chief Executive Officer said in an interview this month: 'We've had some, we believe, pent up demand - just based on the economics of our consumer.'

On Friday, Michelle Obama kicked off her family's final Christmas season at the White House by receiving a 19-foot Balsam-Veitch fir from Wisconsin as the official White House Christmas tree.

Joined by two young nephews instead of her teenage daughters, the first lady said she's ready and excited for the holiday.

'Christmas begins. The holidays start,' Mrs. Obama exclaimed after 'accepting' the tree from Dave and Mary Vander Velden, owners of the Oconto, Wisconsin, farm where it was grown.

'We're ready. Our last one. We're excited about it.'

Late Friday morning, a horse-drawn wagon pulled the tree up the White House driveway. After a visual inspection, Mrs. Obama sought the opinions of her 'replacement kids' — nephews Austin and Aaron Robinson.