AMAZON REPORTS BLACK FRIDAY SALES

Amazon announced Tuesday that independent businesses on its platform received more than $4.8 billion in sales worldwide from Black Friday to Cyber Monday.

The company said in a press release that this revenue marked a more than 60 percent increase from this time last year, with more than 71,000 small- and medium-sized businesses around the world surpassing $100,000 in sales to date this holiday season.

It added that American small- and medium-sized businesses have so far sold an average of 9,500 products per minute in recent weeks.

Amazon said that amid the coronavirus pandemic, it is seeing “record demand” from customers, making it the company’s “biggest holiday season to date.”

“In a holiday season unlike any other, it’s clear that customers still want great deals on gifts for their loved ones or a little something extra for themselves, and we’re glad to help deliver smiles throughout the season,” Jeff Wilke, CEO of Amazon Worldwide Consumer, said in the press release.