Budget uncertainty dampens November spending Black Friday discounts failed to significantly boost consumer spending in November, as Budget uncertainty kept shoppers away from the high street. Sales declined 0.1 per cent last month, following a 0.9 per cent fall in October, as households opted to hold off spending in the run up to Christmas and wait to see the outcome [...]
Black Friday boost fails to materialise for Britain’s high streets Retail 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). [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Vodafone shares lead blue-chip rally; Unemployment rises Economics Good morning from the City AM liveblog team. What are you looking forward to more – Black Friday or Budget day? They are two vital days that UK retailers are bracing for in this month’s calendar, both of which can provide a major boost to firms – or crushing disappointment. Retail sales today show another [...]
AI-assisted shopping starts to go mainstream November 5, 2025 The promised AI revolution in shopping is starting to materialise, with shoppers increasingly trusting agents for personal recommendations ahead of the festive season. Traffic to retail sites from AI tools is expected to surge fivefold year-over-year, with particular boosts on Cyber Monday and Black Friday, according to Adobe. “Traditional models of how consumers react with [...]
Retail in 2025: The year of personalisation, AI, wellness – and no more barcodes December 24, 2024 2024 has been a tough year for retail. From companies sounding the alarm on business rates in the first half of the year to low consumer confidence and footfall proving stickier than expected, the festive period has now been overshadowed by stark warnings about further cost rises next year. Restructuring partner at RSM UK, Gordon [...]
UK adults spent more on Black Friday than they invested the entire year. Something’s gone wrong! December 6, 2024 When the average UK adult spends more on Black Friday than they invest in an entire year, it’s clear we’re losing the battle for consumer attention.
Black Friday: Retailers look to cash in as early spending surges November 29, 2024 Black Friday spending is up by more than a fifth as Brits look to find deals online and on the high street, according to early data. The discount day last year was the busiest shopping day on record for Nationwide customers, and the lender said by 9am spending was up 21 per cent compared to [...]
Retailers pin hopes on Black Friday and Christmas after footfall tumbles November 29, 2024 The holiday season could bring much more than some festive cheer this year.
Black Friday is letting small retailers suffer November 29, 2024 Consumers say they want to support small businesses, but Black Friday tells a different story, writes Holly Tucker in today's Notebook.
Black Friday TV deals: Save on Sky Sports, TNT Sports, Amazon and more November 28, 2024 Watching sport on TV in the UK can be eye-wateringly expensive – accessing all the available Premier League games costs a minimum of £740 for a whole football season – but Black Friday sport subscription deals could bring that cost down. If you need to watch absolutely all of the football, such as the Nations [...]