Domestic firms, shoppers join Black Friday buying frenzy

Online purchases on first day of shopping festival set new record

BEIJING — Transcending distances and national borders, the Black Friday shopping spree has become an extravaganza for both US and Chinese firms as well as consumers, thanks to the expansive reach of cross-border e-commerce.

According to several data providers, Black Friday spending in the United States saw a robust rise online, indicating the growing popularity of e-commerce as a convenient avenue for securing the best deals on desired products.

Online shopping on Nov 29, the first day of this year's Black Friday shopping spree, reached a record $10.8 billion in sales, US media reported, citing data from Adobe Analytics, which tracks US e-commerce trends. This represents a 10 percent increase over last year's Black Friday and more than double the spending recorded in 2017.