Slightly fewer shoppers to hit stores Thanksgiving weekend

The number of shoppers planning to go shopping during Thanksgiving weekend dropped slightly, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation.

As many as 140 million people said they planned to shop over Thanksgiving weekend, a decrease from last year when 147 million consumers said they intended to visit stores during the holiday weekend, the survey said.

The survey also revealed that 23.5 percent of consumers, or 33 million, say they will shop on Thanksgiving Day. Black Friday – the day after Thanksgiving - will still draw the most shoppers for that weekend, with 69 percent, or 97 million, indicating they will shop.

Merchants also are trying to stretch out the holiday shopping season. Another survey released by the National Retail Federation revealed that about 51 percent of retailers said they will start their Thanksgiving online promotions at least five days before the big shopping weekend.