Black Friday attracts hundreds of shoppers to Crossgates

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - This holiday season is expected to bring in a record high number of shoppers buying both online and in person. With a whopping 183 million people, that's the most ever, who planned to take advantage of holiday deals.

Black Friday is the most popular day to shop, and according to the National Retail Federation, 72%, that's 131 million people, did some form of shopping on Friday. 65% of Black Friday shoppers shopped in person on Friday. That number can also be attributed to the five-day Thanksgiving weekend.

The federation also predicts that holiday spending will soar to the highest levels ever this and next month. Totaling $989 million spent in those two months alone. Black Friday shoppers at Crossgates Mall, Bellamy and Sophia Cottrell, said they arrived at the mall early to beat the crowd and take advantage of the deals.

"We come really early; that way we can get out earlier, and we have more time to shop," Bellamy said.

Lori McCullen said she got to the mall at 7 a.m. and arrived with a clear plan of action and her eyes set on one thing.

"Boots," McCullen said. "A pair of riding boots, and they were on sale. I wanted to get that deal, and the rest has just been walking around and seeing what's what."

McCullen said after 7 a.m. the amount of shoppers increased, but that amount of people felt similar to that of Black Friday last year.

The second most popular day to shop is Cyber Monday, which is expected to see 72 million people shopping online.