by Doug Desjardins

If you’re interested in the latest news, promotions and forecasts for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, check out these sites.

TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

National Retail Federation - Web site with forecasts and trends for Cyber Monday and Black Friday.

Consumer Electronics Association - Trade Association that represents the interests of consumer electronics retailers and manufacturers.

International Council of Shopper Centers - Trade organization that supports the shopping center industry and tracks industry data on retail occupancy rates.

RESEARCH GROUPS

University of Michigan Survey of Consumers - Monthly survey that gauges consumer sentiments about spending and the economy.

BDO Seidman - One of the nation’s largest consulting and accounting organizations.

ComScore - Research firm that tracks e-commerce sales and trends.

Jeff Green Partners - Consulting and research firm specializing in retail planning and expansion.

Accenture - A major global management, consulting and technology services group.

NPD Group - Market research firm that studies consumer trends, sales and marketing issues.

Deloitte & Touche - International accounting and consulting firm that tracks economic trends and provides forecasts.

Retail Forward - A research firm specializing in retail statistics, retail consulting and brand management.

GOVERNMENT RESEARCH

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Labor fact-finding agency for the federal government that tracks unemployment rates and other key economic indicators.

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis - Primary source of statistics on macro trends n the U.S. economy.

COUPON TIME

Now that you’ve checked out the trends, check out the deals!  We’ve got the best Black Friday Coupons and Cyber Monday Promotions.