US EditionUK Retail Sales Growth Cools as Budget Fears Offset Black Friday
Retail sales rose just 1.4% year-on-year in November, the slowest growth in six months amid tax rise concerns and reduced discretionary spending, British Retail Consortium said.
- Last month, BRC and KPMG figures showed UK total retail sales rose just 1.4% year-on-year, marking the weakest six-month pace despite elevated inflation, the British Retail Consortium said.
- Speculation about taxes ahead of Nov. 26 prompted weaker demand as rising household cost pressures and economic nervousness reduced UK consumers' discretionary spending.
- Barclays card and debit data show card spending fell 1.1% year-on-year—the largest decline since February 2021—and overall retail spending dipped 1.1%, despite a 62.50% rise in Black Friday transaction volumes.
- Retailers said Black Friday discounts failed to prevent retail sales slowdown amid budget uncertainty, with industry warnings of excess stock and a potential £40 billion shortfall if spending declines.
- Consumer confidence sat at 22% in November, while household finance confidence edged from 63% to 64%, prompting calls for public policy looking toward 2026 to revive spending and support government fiscal balancing.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Retail sales in Britain show weakest growth in 6 months: BRC
LONDON, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Retail sales in Britain rose 1.4 percent year on year in November, the weakest growth in six months despite heavy Black Friday promotions, according to data released Tuesday by the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Read full story
Talking Retail
RetailWitWeak November sales growth blamed on pre-Budget jitters
UK total retail sales increased by 1.4% year on year in November, against a decline of 3.3% in November 2024, according to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. This was below the 12-month average growth of 2.5%. Food sales increased by 3.0% year on year in… This story continues at Weak November sales growth blamed on pre-Budget jitters Or just read more coverage at Talking Retail
Black Friday boost fails to materialise for Britain's high streets
UK retail sales failed to meet shops’ expectations this Black Friday as pre-budget jitters dampened spending. Retail sales increased by 1.4 per cent year on year in November, against a decline of 3.3 per cent in November 2024 and below the 12-month average growth of 2.5 per cent, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Helen Dickinson, CEO of the BRC, said that Black Friday did not deliver “as retailers had hoped or the economy needed”…
Data Confirms Slump In Black Friday Sales
Despite its status as one of the most critical dates in the retail calendar, Black Friday in the UK failed to deliver this year amid the cost-of-living squeeze, rising economic uncertainty, and weakening consumer confidence. Kelly Creaby, Head of Retail (more…) The post Data Confirms Slump In Black Friday Sales appeared first on KamCity.
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