Long lines greet Black Friday in U.S.

NEW YORK, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. retail stores reported long lines and record crowds as early rising Black Friday shoppers rushed to take advantage of post-Thanksgiving sales.

A Circuit City and a Best Buy in New York reported lines of more than 150 people at 4:45 a.m. waiting outside for the stores to open their doors, CNN/Money reported Friday.

The manager of Tanger Outlet center in Riverhead, N.Y., said lines began forming at 11 p.m. Thursday for the store's midnight opening.

"We've had record breaking crowds already. Now at 4 a.m. we are still overflowing with shoppers," said Janine Nebons, general manager of the outlet center, told CNN. "We estimate that more than 10,000 shoppers were already at the center before it officially opened (Friday."

Many retail chains, including Kohl's and J.C. Penney, instituted 4 a.m. opening times nationwide. Some stores drew in early morning customers by offering "doorbuster deals" only to people who shop during the first few hours of the day, CNN said.

However, shoppers overall appeared to be exercising pragmatic restraint, The New York Times reported, following a series of telephone interview with retailers around the United States.

Retail industry analysts are calling this the "trade down" holiday season, the newspaper said, and retailers expect this will be the weakest holiday shopping season in five years.