Check out the Black Friday aftermath.
 
One thing about low expectations: they are pretty  easy to exceed.
 
Many forecasts called for a tepid holiday shopping season. The National Retail Federation, for example, has forecast the smallest sales gain in five years.
 
But at least on “Black Friday” consumers seemed to come out to shop, though various surveys offer mixed views.
 
The NRF’s Black Friday weekend survey showed a 4.8 percent increase in  store traffic, though in keeping with the mixed messages coming out of the weekend, it also showed a 3.5 percent decline in spending by the average customer.
 
SpendingPulse, meanwhile estimated total spending rose 4.5 percent to 5.5 percent over last year for the Friday-Sunday period.
 
Discounters were the store of choice for most shoppers, according to a survey by America’s Research Group. Analysts also said consumer electronics stores did well, at least early, as consumers flocked to stores to grab “door buster” specials.
 
But many observers also said traffic seemed to ease up on Saturday and Sunday.
 
“While the door buster items drew attention, our sense was that traffic softened as the weekend progressed a phenomenon we observed a year ago,” Charles Grom, analyst at JP Morgan, said in  a research report.
 
And analysts also caution that the weekend was just the start for the season. 
 
“While net-net the kick-off to the holiday seemed decent, the majority of sales are still ahead,” Roxanne Meyer, analyst at CIBC World markets, said in a research report.

Also in the basket: 
 
Newell cuts quarter, year sales view
 
Retailers go from in-store to online holiday push
 
After rush, retailers try new shopping lures (WSJ, subscription required)