Los Angeles  - Bargain-hunting shoppers crowded malls, superstores and high streets across America Friday as retailers sought to entice recession-hit holiday buyers with steep discounts.

The day after the Thanksgiving holiday usually marks the start of the most intense period of the holiday shopping season. It is known as Black Friday because historically shops put their profits in the black thanks to the huge influx of customers.

At Wal-Mart, the largest US retailer, crowds were so large at one New York area store that an employee died after being knocked down by hundreds of shoppers hunting for bargains as the doors opened at 5 am, the New York Daily News reported.

The 34-year-old overnight stock clerk, who was attempting to hold back the wave of shoppers, fell and witnesses said shoppers walked over and around him as he gasped for air.

"They took the doors off the hinges. He was trampled and killed in front of me. They took me down too ... I literally had to fight people off my back," the newspaper quoted co-worker Jimmy Overby, 43, as saying.

The unidentified employee apparently suffered a heart attack and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. The exact cause of death would be determined after an autopsy.

Four others were injured, including a 28-year-old pregnant woman, WABC TV reported. The woman was also taken to hospital, where doctors said her baby was fine.

Elsewhere most retailers were bracing for their worst season in years. Adding to the gloomy prognosis was the fact that there are few must-have gadgets or gifts this season.

Hoping to lure in penny-pinching customers, many retailers opened their stores at midnight after heavy advertising of special discounts.

In Los Angeles hundreds of shoppers lined the pavements outside the Citadel Outlets in Century City to be sure to get the so- called "door-buster deal" on a wide range of merchandise. Outlet stores are expected to perform well this season. The large shops are run directly by manufacturers and typically offer steep discounts over regular retail prices.

In Silicon Valley and elsewhere, tech gadgets appeared to be the most popular items. Flat screen televisions have been seeing a sharp price drop anyway thanks to a drop in component prices.

But retailers slashed prices even further to lure in shoppers at chains like Best Buy and Fry's Electronics where 50 inch Panasonic Plasma TV's were selling for under 900 dollars.

"We may be in a recession," said shopper Tony Valda, who waited all night to snag the TV bargain. "But no-one can resist a deal like this."

Laptop computers were also popular with many stores offering cuts of 40 and more over regular price levels.

Despite the economic downturn, overall sales this season are expected to grow 2.2 per cent to 470.4 billion dollars, according to the National Retail Federation. According to a Gallup poll, individuals may spend an average of 616 dollars on holiday gifts this year, down 29 per cent from a year earlier.

CNN reported that across the country the day had started well, but that analysts feared that the crowds could soon dissipate after snapping up the doorbuster sales.

"[Shoppers] know exactly what they want, where to shop for it and who has the best deals," said Britt Beemer, retail analyst and chairman of America's Research Group. "I talked to a number of people standing in line in stores today. All had lists. And the lists had no more than three items," he said. The real question is whether they'll be anyone left [in stores] by midday." (dpa)