Traffic should be up this holiday season, but promotional activity will be heightened as consumers continue to demand a good bargain, says Morningstar's R.J. Hottovy.
Tough comparisons from 2011 plus stiffer price competition will translate to about 3%-4% growth in holiday sales this year, says Morningstar's director of consumer equity research.
Morningstar's Kim Picciola says Black Friday is an opportunity for retailers to tweak their strategies as they head into the holiday shopping season, but it isn't the be-all, end-all.