For the consumer, expect to see price cuts of up to 40 percent from a year ago on big-screen TVs, plus free shipping deals and even a 36-month financing option, in the run-up to "Black Friday" on November 25, the unofficial start of the holiday selling season. Said Mark Davidoff, Michigan's managing partner for the Deloitte consulting firm: "The Lions are going to beat the Green Bay Packers, then we're going to eat -- and we're going to eat and eat and eat -- and we're going to clean up ... and before long, it's going to be midnight.
– Planning to score a new TV on Black Friday? Apparently this is the year to do so, as deals are exploding in what one analyst calls a “dogfight” between top US retailers. Last year, some retailers only slashed prices on high-end TVs. This year, expect to see discounts across the board—including cuts of up to 40% from one year ago on big-screens—plus other incentives, like free shipping, as companies do whatever they can to lure customers. The TV market is not doing well as recession shoppers avoid purchasing nonessential items, Reuters notes. “As we look at the holiday season, we are going to play offense,” says the CEO of Hhgregg Inc. “We are going to be aggressive.” An analyst adds that the promotions are “starting even earlier than usual,” which is “upping the overall intensity. … It is going to be a dogfight. Everyone's going to be fighting because demand is not great.” In further Black Friday news, it’s not just Macy’s and Target opening at midnight. The Detroit Free Press reports that Black Friday sales are starting earlier than ever—some as early as 9pm on Thursday, for those gluttons who want to go straight from turkey to shopping.