Consumers Set Weekend Spending Record

New York, NY, Nov. 28, 2011 -- U.S. consumers spent a record $52.4 billion over the weekend to kick off the holiday shopping season.

Retail sales climbed 16%, and shoppers spent $398.62 on average, up from $365.34 a year earlier, the National Retail Federation said, citing a survey from BIGresearch.

Web sales on Black Friday surged 26% to $816 million and 18% to $479 million on Thanksgiving Day, said research firm ComScore.

With the monthly U.S. unemployment rate averaging 9% this year, the results suggest consumers with jobs are still willing to spend.