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Shoppers Storm Stores; Officers Stop Fights

POSTED: Friday, November 25, 2005
UPDATED: 7:13 am EST November 26, 2005

Orlando police officers were called to break up some fights between shoppers early Friday as Central Floridians flocked to stores for one of the busiest shopping days of the year, according to Local 6 News.

Line jumpers at a Best Buy at the Fashion Square Mall apparently started a fight at around 11:30 p.m. Officers responded and there were no arrests.

However, one person may be arrested for starting a fight at a Wal-Mart in east Orange County early Friday.

Some shoppers waited for as long as seven hours to be the first in the doors for bargains.

The day after Thanksgiving is known as "Black Friday" because traditionally it's seen as the day most retailers go into the "black" and start earning a profit for the year.

"I am looking for a plasma TV," Central Florida shopper Laura Campbell said. "I can get it for $287 instead of $700."

Local 6 News showed video of store shelves already empty.

According to a national survey, 64 percent of people polled said they plan to shop Friday.

Robust Holidays Sales Expected

The economy in Florida is the healthiest in the nation," said Rick McAllister, president of the Florida Retail Federation, which said Wednesday that retailers expect sales this holiday season to increase by more than 6 percent over last Christmas.

"Unemployment rates are the lowest that we've seen in three decades and job growth is double in Florida what it is across the nation," McAllister said.

The situation is good all around.

The National Retail Federation recently increased its projections for sales growth over last year's Christmas to 6 percent, after having earlier forecast a 5 percent rise.

Recent reductions in energy prices that may lead to more job growth may boost sales, economists say.

In Florida, the typical adult plans to spend about $775 on holiday gifts, food and decorations, according to a Retail Federation survey -- about five percent more than people in comparable national surveys.

Florida's unemployment rate fell to 3.4 percent in October -- its strongest showing in nearly three decades -- and 253,000 new jobs were added over the year.

The Retail Federation survey also found that the gift people most want this year is a gift card or gift certificate -- the first time that's ever been the leading wish-list item.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

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