The five-day period between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday saw fewer shoppers than a year ago, a major retail-industry group said Tuesday, due in part to the later timing of the holiday this year and an avalanche of deals through October.

Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday so NBC’s Brian Cheung stops by TODAY to share what stores are open on Thanksgiving, how early they plan to open for Black Friday, and then offers tips for getting the best discounts.

Highlights included Red Friday, featuring in-store only deals, holiday photos on the field, hot chocolate in the Phillies dugout, a meet and greet with Phillies broadcasters, and vintage and modern autographed items to put under the tree, courtesy of Hunt Auctions.

The initial numbers from the five-day Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday holiday sales weekend signal a positive start to retailers' most crucial sales perior of the year.

Fewer Americans shopped during Thanksgiving weekend this year, a sign that consumers remain selective about spending.

About 197 million people shopped over the five-day period between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, surpassing a retail industry group's expectation.

US consumers turned out in force in stores and online over the Thanksgiving weekend, a key stretch in the holiday shopping season, a leading retailer group said Tuesday.