The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that U.S. retailers are kicking off the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season on Friday with a bevy of discounts and other enticements. An Associated Press dispatch to The Globe says, however, that executives are growing concerned with a spending slowdown that could temper sales on the day after Thanksgiving as well as throughout the holidays. Shoppers, powered by a solid job market and steady wage growth, had demonstrated a resilience that confounded economists and ran counter to sour sentiments expressed in opinion polls. Such spending, while cautious, came despite higher prices in the grocery aisle and higher borrowing costs. Consumers are now coming under more pressure from dwindling savings, increased credit-card debt and still-stubborn inflation. In fact, shoppers cut their buying in October, ending six straight months of gains. The latest quarterly results from a string of retailers from Walmart to Best Buy have reported a weakening consumer. Walmart said it noticed shoppers cutting back in October and offered a muted annual sales outlook. Best Buy said shoppers are trading down to cheaper TVs, while Target said shoppers are waiting longer to buy items.