Despite gloomy predictions for Black Friday, shoppers turned out in larger numbers than last year, according to retail analyst groups.

Sales on the day after Thanksgiving were up 3 percent from last year, reaching $10.6 billion, according to the Chicago-based research firm ShopperTrak RCT.

Shoppers also spent more from Thanksgiving Day until Sunday — an average of $372.57, up 7.2 percentage points over last year — according to the National Retail Federation, a retail trade association.

English education junior Sarah Shannon did not shop when some retail stores opened at 5 a.m., but she did hit the mall on Black Friday. Shannon said while she wasn’t looking for anything in particular, she wanted to go out and find bargains, such as the half-price jeans she bought at Wet Seal and the $15 semiformal dress she bought at Dillard’s marked down from $89.

“It’s above and beyond,” Shannon said. “For sure it’s the main (shopping day). You can get the best deals.”

For those who missed Black Friday sales, another big shopping day comes Monday: Cyber Monday, known as the kickoff for online shopping for the holiday season.

According to a survey by Shop.org, an estimated 84.6 million shoppers plan to make online purchases Monday. Shop.org reported in 2007, 72 million shopped online on Cyber Monday, up from 60.7 million in 2006.

Sheila Dorsey-Vinton, a second-year graduate student at UK, said while she may not necessarily shop on Cyber Monday, she plans on doing her Christmas shopping online.

Crowds make her uncomfortable, and the thought of the Wal-Mart worker trampled on Black Friday in New York makes her nervous.

Online shopping is an easier option than buying from brick-and-mortar stores on Black Friday, Dorsey-Vinton said.

“There are deals to be had for sure, but I don’t want to wake up at 4 in the morning to get them,” she said.