© EPAA topless activist of the feminist movement FEMEN bearing the slogan 'Black Friday' raids a shop in Ukraine this morning as consumer madness spreads around the world
Photographs from the Ukrainian capital show a woman from radical feminist group FEMEN throwing confectionery while screaming in protest.
Before being taken away, the woman - who also had the words 'Black Friday' painted on her torso - managed to cause a considerable mess in the store.
© EPAThe radical feminist protester was eventually taken away so genuine Black Friday shoppers could take advantage of the day's sales
At a shop in Sao Paulo, Brazil's biggest city, huge crowds can be seen struggling to get hold of huge Samsung TVs. A worker can be seen standing on a stack of electronics attempting to marshal the chaos by using a vuvuzela horn. But his hope appears futile as the crowds swarm around the precious brown boxes containing cut-price goodies.
© EPAIn pictures from a shop in Sao Paulo, Brazil's biggest city, huge crowds can be seen struggling to get hold of huge Samsung TVs. But his hope appears futile as the crowds swarm around the precious brown boxes containing cut-price goodies
© ReutersIn another of the images, a worker can be seen standing on a stack of electronics attempting to marshal the chaos by using a vuvuzela horn
In Athens, meanwhile, queues are already starting to build as shoppers in Greece strike out in search of deals. Pictures taken this morning show some happy customers already carrying away TVs - though they are decidedly smaller than those on sale in Sao Paulo.
It comes as shoppers in the UK are expected to spend nearly £8billion this weekend as stores slash prices. Discounts on some products are expected to be so big that sellers will actually make a loss.
© EPAIn Athens, meanwhile, queues are already starting to build as shoppers in Greece strike out in search of deals
A record number of stores are running promotions as they fear losing business to rivals or online giant Amazon. Even Next has felt the pressure, and for the first time has brought forward its Boxing Day sale to start at 3am today. It has previously refused to hold sales in the run-up to Christmas.
© ReutersEager shoppers were seen cramped against the store's doors as they waited patiently to get their hands on early Christmas gifts
© ReutersThe initial sales on Thanksgiving Day were expected to increase 15 per cent to $2.8 billion. But by 5pm Thursday, Americans had already spent $1.52 billion, which is a 17 per cent increase from last year
The warm autumn means fashion sellers are looking to offload masses of unsold coats, boots and woollens.
In the US, Black Friday mayhem began at 5pm on Thanksgiving Day as thousands of bargain hunters rushed inside stores across the country in search of amazing sales, door buster deals and limited-time offers as experts predict 164 million Americans will spend nearly $1,000 each over the holiday weekend.
Macy's Herald Square in Manhattan saw hundreds of people lined up outside their doors waiting to get their hands on deals like cosmetic and perfume sets from $10 to $20 as well as 40 per cent off on boots and shoes.
© PAShoppers wait outside the entrance to Game in Westfield Shopping Centre in Stratford, east London after the video game retailer opened its doors at midnight for Black Friday
© PABargain hunters stayed up late to make it to the midnight opening of Game in Stratford, east London. Shoppers will spend nearly £8billion this weekend as stores slash prices for Black Friday
Experts have predicted that over the five-day period between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, consumers will spend $19.7 billion.
As several shoppers have braved the cold weather in tents, others have found a way to take the easy way out. Some shoppers have reportedly been disguising themselves as staffers to beat the long lines.
People were reportedly selling Walmart employee vests and promised buyers an easy way to bypass the line.
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Makes me want to have a nice old school cristmass again, like the very first one. Somewhere in the middle of nowhere in a barn with animals, and just the people you love...