Black Friday Project.

I just realized how perfect Black Friday is for a project in Mathematics.  One of the dictates of math is for students to learn to communicate in a variety of methods.

One such method is to use infographics to communicate information in a visually satisfying manner.

In addition, infographics often use statistics as the basis for information included.  One time, I had fun creating one on what happens the first day after going onto Daylight Savings time.

Black Friday, besides being one of those sales days where stores open at 5 or 6 in the morning, is full of statistics perfect to communicate via infographics.  Look at these numbers:
1. In general 30 percent of yearly retail sales occur between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  In some areas such as jewelry, it can be 40 percent of all sales.

2. In 2015 - 74 million people shopped in stores on Black Friday
    In 2016 - 101.7 million shopped in stores on Black Friday
    In 2017 - the figure declined 4 percent.

3. In 2015 - 102 million shopped in stores for the whole 4 day weekend.
    In 2016 - It jumped to 134 million.

4.  In 2017 - 7.9 Billion online sales.  40% were made from mobile phones
     In 2016 - on line sales were 18% less.  calls from mobile phones were 29% less.

5. On average each shopper is expected to spend an average of $1007.24 which breaks down as follows:  $637.67 on gifts, $215.04 for food, decorations, etc, and 154.53 on seasonal deals.

6. Based on 15 years of data, annual sales increased on average 2.5 percent.

7. Data found here for 15 years worth of sales beginning in 2002. This information could also be used to create graphs showing the overall increases and decreases for use in the infographic.

8.  In 2017 between 500,000 and 550,000 seasonal workers were hired.
     In 2008 - 263, 820 workers were hired.
     In 2013 - 764,750 workers were hired.

Lots of great data to convert into infographics.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great weekend.