Thanksgiving By The Numbers

• Average calories consumed Thanksgiving Day: 4500 (a normal two-day total).
• Number of Americans shopping this Friday: 140 million.
• Increase in retail sales over last Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving): 6%.
• Percentage of shoppers arriving at first shopping destination before 6 AM this Friday: 36%.
• Average amount spent by shoppers this weekend: $360 (up 19% over last year).
• Clothing was the most popular category this Friday: 41% of all purchases.
• Percent of shoppers visiting a discounter this weekend: 50% (down from 61% last year).
• Increase in Web retail sales over last Black Friday: 42%
• Quickly sold out items: Elmo TMX, Sony PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii.

Additional online holiday stats:
• Percent of Americans who will do half or more of their shopping online this holiday season: 32%
• Percent of Americans who will do some of their shopping online this holiday season: 75%
• Percent of New York shoppers’ average holiday budget that will be spent online: 75% ($1,483 out of $2,137)
• Percent of Minneapolis shoppers’ average holiday budget that will be spent online: 41% ($420 out of $1,008)
• Percent of Atlanta shoppers’ average holiday budget that will be spent online: 20% ($398 out of $1,997)

Today, Cyber Monday, is also a huge day for online sales. It is the first day back in the office for many after a four-day Thanksgiving break, and many people will shop online from work.

Sources for the above information include ShopperTrak, National Retail Federation, comScore Networks, JupiterResearch, Caloric Control Council, Yahoo Small Business Survey, and an AOL Shopping Poll by Zogby International.