U.S. shoppers hit Black Friday sales with pared budgets

By Michele Gershberg and Dhanya Skariachan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Americans headed to department stores in droves in the dead of night on Friday to kick off the holiday shopping season, though many said they had pared back how much they would spend on family members and on themselves.

Black Friday, the day after U.S. Thanksgiving, is often the single busiest shopping day of the crucial holiday season, which accounts for nearly one-fifth of the retail industry's annual sales.

The annual festive ritual of American consumerism is now being monitored closely for signs the U.S. shopper is again ready to propel the economy forward, after the global financial crisis last year led to the worst holiday season in nearly four decades.

Debra Diriwachter, a supermarket cashier, waited for several hours outside the Queens Center mall in New York before doors opened at 11 p.m. EST on Thursday. She is cutting back her gift budget this year and will only use cash for purchases.

"I don't like to be in debt and if I know what I am spending, that's good," she said.

The first 200 shoppers entering the mall, some in their pajamas, were handed $10 gift cards to whet the appetite.

"This is beautiful. I am so happy," said Roberto Tomala. "This is a good motivation to everybody. In this situation, even $10 helps to buy something"

Up to 134 million U.S. consumers say they may shop for holiday gifts this weekend from Black Friday through Sunday, according to the National Retail Federation.