Andrea Felsted, Columnist

Your Black Friday Bargain Is Stuck Somewhere in the Pacific

This year’s shopping holiday may be boring, as supply shortages and increasing costs force stores to cut down on promotions.

October 15, 2021 at 5:00 AM UTC

By Andrea Felsted

Andrea Felsted is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering consumer goods and the retail industry. Previously, she was a reporter for the Financial Times.

Not this year.
Photographer: Alex McBride/Getty Images Europe

Provide news feedback or report an error

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

This article is for subscribers only.

Don’t count on that Black Friday bargain.

This holiday season, stores won’t be competing on price — the battleground will be availability. With shoppers buoyant (for now), there’s little need to simulate demand, while supply shortages and higher shipping and labor costs will push retailers to protect margins. That all adds up to fewer doorbusters.