U.S. BLACK FRIDAY SALES HIT RECORD HIGH U.S. online Black Friday sales reached a record $11.8 billion, up 9.1% from last year, according to Adobe Analytics. Adobe expects Americans to spend $5.5 billion on Saturday and $5.9 billion on Sunday. Salesforce reported $18 billion in total Black Friday spending, with luxury apparel and accessories among the top sellers. Despite higher spending, shoppers bought fewer items due to rising prices. In-store traffic was quieter as many consumers worried about overspending amid inflation and economic uncertainty. Cyber Monday is projected to lead the season with $14.2 billion in online sales, Adobe said.(*Walter Bloomberg)