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UK retail spending shows modest growth ahead Black Friday, survey show

Shoppers are prioritizing clothing, school shoes and toiletries, with 65% delaying purchases to buy them cheaper in the sales, Rakuten said.

  • Retailers reported subdued October sales as shoppers delayed spending ahead of Black Friday and Christmas, figures show, with retailers predicting strong November demand.
  • Consumer confidence dipped in October ahead of the Chancellor's Budget as households faced mounting economic pressures. Jack Meaning, chief UK economist at Barclays, said, "As the squeeze on consumers' spending power begins to build," optimism is fading.
  • Retailers demand energy bill cuts as costs rise by £440m, while Tesco urged the Chancellor to slash "fundamentally unfair" business rates to help offset mounting pressures.
  • Total UK retail sales rose 1.5% year on year, according to the British Retail Consortium and KPMG, though food sales at 3.2% masked flat non-food performance as customers awaited Black Friday deals.
  • BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said retailers are "hoping pent-up demand translates into stronger spending through November and December" as they work to deliver value this Christmas.
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Retailers suffer subdued October as shoppers hold back ahead of Black Friday

Total UK retail sales increased by 1.5% year on year, although this was above the three-month average growth of 1.2%, according to the BRC and KPMG.

·London, United Kingdom
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Drapers broke the news on Monday, November 9, 2026.
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