Local shoppers line up for Black Friday

SEEKONK, Mass. (WPRI/AP) - Many shoppers spent late Thursday night and early Friday morning camped outside stores, ready to pounce on Black Friday deals.

The Best Buy in Seekonk, like many other retailers around the country, opened before the break of dawn Friday. Crowds of shoppers streamed in to take advantage of deep discounts that retailers hope will lead to a lucrative holiday shopping season.

Several people lined up outside the Seekonk Best Buy Thanksgiving night with chairs and tents. One man brought a portable television and DVD player to pass the time.

A number of stores, including Walmart and many Old Navy locations, opened on Thanksgiving, hoping to make the most of the extra hours. Toys R Us opened most of its stores just after midnight Friday.

Still, with unemployment at 10.2 percent and consumers still struggling with tight credit, many analysts expect that total holiday sales will be at best about even from a year ago.