Black Friday growing in Canada

(Video updated) A BMO study shows the American Black Friday sales and shopping event grew in Canada last year, with 41 per cent of Canadians shopping on Black Friday with an increase to 47 per cent planning to go shopping today.

The study also shows that Black Friday is taking sales away from Boxing Day, the traditional Canadian shopping event the day after Christmas.

BMO predicts Canadian holiday retail sales excluding gas and autos will rise two per cent year over year in the November to December period.

The retail industry in the U.S. predicts 140 million people will spend more than $40 billion dollars shopping from Black Friday through Cyber Monday, an increase of more than two per cent from last year.

Video: Phil Perkins catches up to early birds at Lime Ridge in Hamilton; Black Friday madness in the U.S..