PORTLAND — Maine retailers say this year’s Black Friday weekend had strong sales that are continuing in December.

Kelly Edwards, executive director of the Freeport Merchants Association, tells The Portland Press Herald sales activity over Black Friday weekend met or exceeded last year’s activity.

Edwards says December is turning out to be equally strong.

Curtis Picard, executive director of the Retail Association of Maine, says most retailers across the state have been reporting healthy sales for the first half of December.

Maine shoppers spent nearly $390 million on general merchandise last December, the strongest December showing since 2007. Picard says numbers for this month won’t be available until February.

Picard says unusually low fuel prices appear to be helping retailers because less income is going toward gasoline and heating oil.