Black Friday sales up 10.4% online, 1.7% in stores

Figures don’t include inflation, but many retailers express optimism despite economic jitters

Black Friday retail sales growth picked up this year, Mastercard said Saturday, as shoppers shook off economic uncertainty and weak sentiment.

Friday's retail sales excluding autos rose 4.1%, Mastercard SpendingPulse said in a statement. That's stronger than last year's 3.4% growth.

Online sales rose 10.4%; in-store sales rose 1.7%. The data are not adjusted for inflation. Demand was strongest for clothes and jewelry…(Read full story)