It's official: Black Friday isn't just about Friday anymore.
Walmart - the nation's largest retailer - will rollback hours on what used to be a post-Thanksgiving shopping ritual to even earlier on Thanksgiving Day.
According to a report in the Huffington Post, Walmart will start its Black Friday promotions at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, a full two hours earlier than in 2011.
Apparently, the early hours are a sign that retailers are strategizing about spending forecasts: Holiday spending is expected to rise 4.1 percent, according to the National Retail Federation, down from 5.6 percent a year earlier.
Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor already announced its earliest opening time ever: The largest shopping center in Washtenaw County will open at midnight.
Here's how Walmart will be luring shoppers, according to the HuffPo article: The store will be offering video games starting at $10 and home appliances such as a Crock Pot slow cooker and a Mr. Coffee maker for $9.44 each.