Shopping's big weekend a record setter

In spite of high unemployment and a sluggish economy, Americans opened their wallets and purses on Black Friday -- and broke sales records.

The average shopper spent nearly $399 dollars over the weekend -- $33 more than last year, according to a National Retail Federation survey conducted by BIGresearch, a marketing research firm.

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Part of the success may be attributed to retailers opening their doors earlier than ever, reports CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller.

"Retailers that opened early actually saw a 24 percent increase in Thursday and Friday business," says Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst for marketing research firm NPD Group, Inc.

A record 226 million shoppers hit the stores and visited websites, spending close to $53 billion -- more than any other Black Friday weekend in history.

But in some places, things got ugly. One woman, supposedly waiting in line for an Xbox 360 at a Walmart in Porter Ranch, Calif., pepper sprayed about 20 people in the store. Los Angeles authorities are still deciding whether or not to charge her.

With some Cyber Monday deals expected to last through the week and the holidays retailers could have good reason to cheer.

"There's plenty of holiday shopping left to come," says Cohen. "It's all about the deal."