LONDON, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Retail sales in Britain rose 1.4 percent year on year in November, the weakest growth in six months despite heavy Black Friday promotions, according to data released Tuesday by the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
November retail sales fell below the 12-month average growth rate of 2.5 percent, with food sales increasing 3 percent year on year, below the 12-month average growth of 3.6 percent.
Meanwhile, non-food sales edged up 0.1 percent year on year, compared with an average rise of 1.6 percent over the past year. Online non-food sales in November only grew 0.5 percent year on year, a sharp slowdown from the 12-month average increase of 2.5 percent.
"Pre-Budget jitters among shoppers meant the month of Black Friday did not deliver as strongly as retailers had hoped, or the economy needed," BRC Chief Executive Helen Dickinson said. She stressed that sales growth was the weakest in six months, despite the elevated inflation.
Rising household costs and nervousness about the economy continued to impact discretionary spending, said Linda Ellett, U.K. head of consumer, retail, and leisure at KPMG.
November also marked the seventh consecutive month of declining shopping footfall as Black Friday failed to deliver the expected boost despite early and deep discounting, said Andy Sumpter, retail consultant for Sensormatic Solution, a retail analytics company.
In the 2025 Budget unveiled in late November, the chancellor planned to support high streets with permanently lower tax rates for 750,000 retail and hospitality properties, reduce energy bills, and freeze rail fares. The Budget also increased the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage.
"Retailers will be hoping that Budget clarity has now provided more certainty for consumers about their ability to spend in the months ahead. And as the Christmas decorations go up, hopefully retail sales growth does too, ending 2025 with some festive cheer for the sector," Ellett said.
Dickinson said it was time for public policy in 2026 to prioritize measures aimed at reviving consumer confidence and reducing business costs, allowing retailers to focus on growth strategies to maximize their contribution to economic recovery. ■