Deep discounts encouraged US shoppers to spend more on electronics, apparel, and luxury goods, signaling a strong start to retail's holiday season.

That’s how much US consumers spent in two hours on Monday night, capping off a five-day spending spree that smashed previous records.

Black Friday may not attract lines of customers wrapped around buildings as in years past, but overall, the number of holiday shoppers who went to stores and made purchases online this year nearly broke records.