Up to 128 million shoppers and would-be shoppers are expected to spend this holiday weekend, but that number represent a drop of more than 5 percent from a year ago, according to a survey released Tuesday.
Retailers ring up roughly 10 percent of total holiday sales during the three-day weekend, best known for the deals offered on Black Friday -- named for the days when store chains used to turn a profit for the year.
The weekend's results do not always indicate how overall holiday sales will fare, but with the United States likely in a consumer-led recession, it has added importance.