Black Friday Shopping Steady at Burr Ridge Village Center

Early morning price-buster deals drew numerous shoppers to the Burr Ridge Village Center Friday morning.

But, by 9 a.m. the rush of shoppers slowed to a steady stream. Merchants in the shopping complex reported a good turnout. They said the early morning discounts offered drew the heaviest customers, but as the discounts lessened in the late morning, the numbers dwindled a bit.

Shopper Angela Adams said she enjoys getting out and taking advantage of the deals retailers offer on Black Friday. However, she said she doesn't always shop for Christmas presents, but looks for things she likes.

"You can find all kinds of great discounts and deals if you're willing to put up with the crowds," Adams said Friday morning after shopping at .

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, typically ranks as the biggest shopping day of the year.

According to the Chicago Tribune, in 2010, U.S. retailers rang up $19.3 billion in sales, based on estimates across all payment forms from MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse. This year, the credit card company estimates retail sales will top $20 billion.

The National Retail Federation expects 152 million people to shop this weekend, up 10 percent from last year. The initial shopping frenzy suggests the biggest shopping weekend of the year is off to a strong start, the Tribune reported.