51.   Thanksgiving and the ensuing post-holiday sales came five days later this year, squeezing a few shopping days out of the crucial holiday season.

52.   That, one official noted, is the busiest shopping day of the year.

53.   The busiest shopping day last year was the Saturday before Christmas, he said.

54.   The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year.

55.   The day after Thanksgiving is typically the busiest shopping day of the year.

56.   The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally the first shopping day for Christmas gifts.

57.   The holiday season started strongly and then softened in mid-December with someretailers blaming a late Thanksgiving and fewer shopping days for sales that failed to meet expectations.

58.   The group said the number is skewed because there are five fewer shopping days this year compared with last.

59.   The gain was adjusted for one less shopping day last year.

60.   The figures are corrected to take out seasonal differences and a difference in the number of shopping days in the month.