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Penney, Target Double Down For Boxing Day

Target

While the holiday selling season may be going better than expected, some retailers aren't taking chances -- advertising sweeping post-holiday reductions even before Santa starts up the sleigh.

JCPenney is promoting its biggest-ever After-Christmas Sale, with the early hours and "doorbuster" deals that customers are more used to seeing in November. Penney says it will offer over 100 different doorbusters from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., and an expanded 48-page circular. While stores will be closed Dec. 25, the post-Christmas deals will be available online, with free shipping for orders of more than $69. Instore values include $10 off any purchase over $25.

Target has already announced extended hours on Boxing Day, as well as free shipping for online purchases of $50 or more, and 50% off many popular gift items, including more than 100 DVDs and Blu-Ray movies, and 20% off Phillips headphones and iPod accessories.

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The post-Christmas push comes after early indications that overall, these have been healthy holidays. ShopperTrak's National Retail Sales Estimate reports that over "Super Saturday" weekend, sales increased 5.5% over last year, with foot traffic climbing 3% in the period. And Saturday itself accounted for $7.58 billion, with a 10.1% traffic increase.

ComScore, which tracks digital spending, says that Americans have already spent $28.4 billion online, a 12% increase versus the corresponding days last year. The recent week ending Dec. 19 hit $5.5 billion in spending, a 14% jump. And the final full weekend before Christmas came in at $900 million, a hefty 17% leap from last year.

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