Black Friday - the biggest ever weekend of shopping in the UK?
Consumers are expected to spend almost ÂŁ8 billion on deals this year.
Shoppers are hitting the high streets to spend just under #2.6 billion today alone - an 8% increase overall on last year - and ÂŁ7.8 billion over the four-day period including Cyber Monday, up 7% on last year, according to predictions by VoucherCodes and the Centre for Retail Research (CRR).
Retailers are relying on a successful weekend and are hoping customers will continue to spend confidently despite the first rise in interest rates in 10 years and a squeeze on disposable income driven by rising inflation and stagnant wage growth.
A number of big-name chains such as John Lewis, Game, Tesco and Argos have extended their high street opening hours and many retailers have already offered days of deals in a bid to maximise hype and spending around the global event.
Last year shoppers spent more than ÂŁ900 million more on debit cards compared to an average weekend, with the most "intense'' increase in spending seen in the 45 to 65-year-old age group.