November Retail Spending in UK Declines Despite Black Friday Surge
In November, UK retail spending fell by 1.1% year-on-year, marking the sharpest decline in consumer card spending since February 2021, according to the Barclays Consumer Spend report. Despite Black Friday being the busiest shopping day of 2025, the broader slowdown in consumer spending persisted. Retailers initiated Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM) promotions earlier to attract cautious shoppers, resulting in a record £3.8 billion spent online over Cyber Weekend. However, non-essential spending decreased for the first time since July 2024, and essential spending continued its downward trend. The report also noted a 27% drop in average order value compared to last year's Black Friday. 
