Black Friday shopping indicators will be trickling out over the weekend, with some early signs coming nationally that electronics dealers and "doorbuster" deals drove traffic so far today.

But at Briarwood Mall, the shopping cycle on the traditional launch to the holiday season is less clear-cut, said manager Ida Hendrix. Early shoppers tend to work from an itinerary based on where certain sales are in the area, and where the mall fits into that can vary.

"I can't say it's predictable," she said.

Three anchor stores - JCPenney, Macy's and Sears - had early morning doorbuster deals, and several of the 120 or so other stores followed suit.

By one count, at least 50 people were in line at JCPenney when it opened, compared to about 1,000 at Toys R Us in Arborland.

But Briarwood traffic appeared to grow steadily from 6 a.m. on, until by 9 a.m. 75 percent of the parking lot was filled - one indicator of how mall stores are faring this weekend.

That percentage appeared higher by noon.

"The energy feels good," Hendrix said about activity on Black Friday.

Anecdotally, Hendrix said many Briarwood shoppers said they were buying items for themselves and not gifts, possibly reflection some national speculation that shoppers who postponed fall purchases for themselves may make those purchases during the holiday.