Black Friday offers beacon of hope to struggling US stores

A shopper walks by a store in Pembroke Pines, Florida. After months of slumping sales and businesses toppling into bankruptcy, Black Friday is offering a small beacon of hope. — AP

NEW YORK: After months of slumping sales and businesses toppling into bankruptcy, Black Friday is offering a small beacon of hope.

In normal times, Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year, drawing millions of shoppers eager to get started on their holiday spending.