This Black Friday season is projected to see record spending, up to $989 billion, as consumers loosen their budgets despite inflation concerns. Reports indicate deceptive pricing tactics among retailers, with nearly one-third of tech deals showing price hikes before discounts. While in-person shopping saw a resurgence, online shopping remains popular, leading to caution against scams and misleading sales tactics. Consumer experts advise on being vigilant by comparing prices and understanding the authenticity of deals, as many discounts are not as significant as they appear.