The Origins of Black Friday and How Prices Have Changed Over the Years
- Marcelo Serafim
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
Black Friday is widely known today as the biggest shopping day of the year in the United States, but its origins are not directly connected to retail or discounts. The term was first used in the 19th century to describe a financial crisis—the 1869 collapse of the U.S. gold market. Two Wall Street investors attempted to corner the gold market, causing economic panic. Newspapers labeled the event “Black Friday,” marking the beginning of the negative association with the phrase.