Retail sales declined in November amid later Black Friday
UK retail sales declined in November after trading was impacted by the timing of this year’s Black Friday and cautious spending by consumers.
Figures from the British Retail Consortium show that total sales dropped by 3.3% year-on-year in the month against growth of 2.6% at the same time last year.
This was below the three-month average growth of -0.1% and the 12-month average growth of 0.5%.
While food sales increased by 2.4% in the three months to November, non-food sales fell by 2.1% as shoppers spent less on new clothing items. For the month of November, non-food was in decline year-on-year.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive at the British Retail Consortium, said: “While it was undoubtedly a bad start to the festive season, the poor spending figures were primarily down to the movement of Black Friday into the December figures this year.
“Even so, low consumer confidence and rising energy bills have clearly dented non-food spending. Spending on fashion was particularly weak as households delayed purchases of new winter clothing, while health spending was boosted by the season’s arrival of coughs and colds.
“Retailers will be hoping that seasonal spending is delayed not diminished and that customers get spending in the remaining weeks running up to Christmas.”
Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, retail & leisure at KPMG, added: “While the majority of November’s data tells a disappointing tale for the retail sector, this reporting didn’t include Black Friday week, so the hope for retailers is that consumers were being savvy shoppers and that the promotional push in the last days of the month saw held-back consumer spend materialise and mitigate what is otherwise a disappointing month. If not, then we may see some retailers launching Christmas sales early.”
