Retailers get uncertainty and an early start for the holidays

The "most wonderful time of the year" now begins in September, and this year might be called "most confusing." The unofficial kickoff to the end-of-year holidays was traditionally Thanksgiving, with Black Friday marking the first full day for holiday shopping. Then retailers began hosting "early Black Friday events" earlier in November, which crept into October, and now well before even early Black Friday a variety of holiday promotions is taking place in the September-October timeframe.