UK retailers set high hopes on Black Friday 2025 to counteract recent sales slump

UK retailers are banking on a boost in sales this holiday season after a challenging few weeks. Recent data from Sensormatic, as reported by the British Retail Consortium, shows that high street footfall fell by 3.7 per cent in November, a slight decrease from October's -3.6 per cent.

Retail park and shopping centre footfall also saw declines of 1.1 per cent and 6.1 per cent respectively, indicating a nationwide hesitancy to shop, as reported by City AM.

Footfall across all nations dropped this month, with Northern Ireland down 2.8 per cent, Scotland by 6.8 per cent, England by 4.2 per cent and Wales 7.1 per cent.

London experienced the second largest drop at 2.5 per cent, trailing behind Bristol's 7.7 per cent. The data, which covers the four weeks between 27 October and 23 November, leaves Black Friday as a potential turning point for retailer optimism heading into the new year.

"Retailers remain hopeful that the Black Friday and Christmas sales will help to turn around the declining footfall seen through most of 2024, crucial as we enter the golden quarter," said Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium. She added: "Retail not only contributes to the economy of local areas but is essential to everyday life in communities across the country."

-2.0%

-0.1%

-2.1%

-2.5%

-2.3%

-0.6%

-4.7%

-0.1%

-5.5%

1.3%

-5.6%

1.0%

-7.4%

-0.4%

-7.8%

-7.7%

-8.6%

0.0%

-9.4%

1.6%

-10.8%

1.8%

The struggles caused by a decline in foot traffic come on the heels of an already difficult period for retailers, according to Dickinson. This includes the recent increase in employers' national insurance and minimum wage.

Earlier this week, the retail chief also cautioned that tax increases announced in the latest government budget may lead to the return of inflation in the UK. Despite prices remaining in deflation in November, down 0.6% month on month, up from a 0.8% deflation in the previous month, Dickinson hinted that "significant price pressures on the horizon" could mean that November's figures "may signal the end of falling inflation."

Consumer confidence has taken a hit, "perhaps not helped by post-Budget spending jitters," said Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic.

Sumpter added: "This lacklustre footfall performance will have come as a blow for many retailers, who would have been counting on getting early Christmas trading results under their belts before the start of advent."