Wal-Mart hits record for single day

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. hit a single-day sales record during the traditional day-after-Thanksgiving shopping sprees, taking in $1.43 billion nationally.

Last year, Wal-Mart reported sales of $1.25 billion for the Friday after Thanksgiving.

The retailer said the rise in sales was driven by improvements in both the number of shoppers and the average spent. Top-selling categories included home electronics, small appliances and toys.

November sales for the four-week period ending Nov. 29 are due out Thursday.

Through October, the company had more than 1,500 Wal-Mart stores, 1,200 Supercenters, 500 Sam's Clubs and dozens of Neighborhood Markets in the United States.