In a sign of consumer desperation amid a bleak economy, the annual rite of retailing known as Black Friday turned chaotic and even deadly, as predawn shoppers scrambled for holiday bargains.

A Wal-Mart worker on Long Island died after being trampled by customers who broke through the doors early Friday. And fights and injuries occurred around the country at some other stores operated by Wal-Mart, the nation’s leading discount chain, which is one of the few retailers thriving in the current economy.

Despite those outbreaks, many other retailers appeared to have fewer customers than usual the day after Thanksgiving, which is typically one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Merchants call it Black Friday because in the past, it was when many retailers went into the black, or turned profitable, for the year.

But longtime analysts, industry consultants and customers at malls and stores across the country said this year there were more shoppers than shopping bags. Even many die-hard Black Friday shoppers  the ones who camp out on sidewalks overnight to be first through the doors  said they were cutting back.