Holiday sales during Black Friday weekend important for retailers

The nation’s retailers are predicting a 3-to-4 percent rise in holiday sales now through the end of the year. Analysts consider the Black Friday through Cyber Monday period a key barometer of shoppers’ willingness to spend. The National Retail Federation expects shoppers will spend more this year than last year, but their pace will slow given all the economic uncertainty. Many retailers ordered fewer goods for this holiday season and have pushed sales earlier in October than last year to help shoppers spread out their spending.