Black Friday 2016: Streets deserted as shoppers go online and avoid the high streets - as it happened

Follow the latest updates here

Black Friday explained: A brief history of the famous shopping day

Welcome to the Independent’s live blog on Black Friday as the bonanza sales day kicks off..

Follow the latest updates about deals and events here:

• 'Black Friday' shoplifter stabs off-duty police officer
• Black Friday 2016: High street stores deserted as shoppers crowd online ...
• Meanwhile riots broke out over toilet rolls in a South African supermarket
• The deals and stores to watch out for
• Black Friday 2016: Five ways retailers are tricking you to buying stuff you probably don’t need
• The 7 ways to save the most amount of money on Black Friday
• Half of all Black Friday deals aren't actually deals at all, says watchdog
• How crowded are the stores? Google launches new live feature to help you choose wisely
• Patagonia to give 100% of clothing sales to climate charities
• Black Friday 2016: The best TV deals and where to get them
• Best Xbox One and PS4 deals on games and consoles
• Where to find the best fashion discounts

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Black Friday is fast becoming the best day to hunt for a bargain whether you’re in the US or the UK. In other words, it’s the best day of the year to go shopping, just as long as you’re wearing lots of protective clothing and don’t mind fighting in the aisles.

This year, many retailers including Amazon, Tesco's, and Argos already have some of their best Black Friday deals available early.

Amazon was the first horse out of the box launching Black Friday deals daily from November 14.

Sales this year are likely to top £2bn, say analysts, as shoppers hunt for bargains ahead of an expected rise in prices in 2017 due to a fall in the value of the poud following the UK vote to leave the EU.

"Obviously, with the Brexit currency movements, prices are going to go up in the first quarter of next year. The vast majority of all Black Friday offers were negotiated and in place before the Brexit vote." AO World chief executive told the BBC.

By Thursday, the discount retailing site TopCashback reported a 30 per cent increase in spending over last year.

While more than £2bn is expected to be spent on Friday alone, the total for the next four days is forecast to rise to more than £4bn once the weekend and Cyber-Monday are included.

Click here for Amazon Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals

[25 November 2016 09:10 · Stuart Henderson]

James Moore explains why this year's Black Friday deals really won't be repeated 

[25 November 2016 09:15 · Stuart Henderson]

  ↵Here is a round-up of the latest deals and where to find them

[25 November 2016 09:35 · Stuart Henderson]

[25 November 2016 09:45 · Stuart Henderson]

[25 November 2016 09:51 · Stuart Henderson]

Consumers hoping to bag a Black Friday bargain are expected to spend more than ever online on what is likely to be the biggest shopping day of the year.

[25 November 2016 09:57 · Stuart Henderson]

Parcel delivery firm DPD has hired 1,000 more drivers especially for the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. 

Over the weekend the firm says it will deliver 300,000 items - while next Tuesday that'll rise to four million as online orders are dispatched. 

[25 November 2016 10:02 · Stuart Henderson]

Our fashion reporter Sarah Young, Black Friday is the perfect time to indulge in some retail therapy, to start your Christmas shopping or nab that coat you’ve been eyeing up for a while.

See below to find out all about the best fashion discounts

[25 November 2016 10:09 · Stuart Henderson]

John Roberts, CEO and founder of AO.com told the Independent that online has emerged as the winning way to shop this year:

He said:  “Black Friday is by far the biggest shopping day of the year in the UK. It’s a great opportunity for customers to bag themselves a bargain but there’s still lots of people who haven’t experienced it, and they’re really missing out."

"The day itself has evolved over the last couple of years and online has emerged as the winning way to shop, due to the sheer convenience it offers customers. The internet is the most transparent market place ever created and shopping on AO.com is the best way to ensure you get the best price and an amazing customer experience, whatever it is you are after this Friday."

[25 November 2016 10:20 · Stuart Henderson]

Half of Black Friday deals were actually cheaper before and after the event, the consumer group, Which?has found.

The watchdog warned shoppers to “do your research” after it found just 8 per cent of offers were exclusive to the day, while four in 10 could be picked up cheaper after the event and one in 10 items cost less in the months before.

More on this here: 

[25 November 2016 10:26 · Stuart Henderson]