LONDON, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Britain's retail sales volumes fell by 0.1 percent in November 2025 amid weaker-than-usual effect of Black Friday promotions, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed Friday.
The fall registered last month followed a revised 0.9-percent drop in October, according to the ONS.
Specifically, supermarket sales volumes fell for the fourth consecutive month, with retailers reporting low footfall. Department stores' sales volumes rose, which some retailers attributed to longer Black Friday discounting, the data showed.
Noting that Black Friday period promotions failed to deliver the bigger boost many retailers were hoping for, Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, retail, and leisure at KPMG, said rising household costs and nervousness about the economy continue to impact discretionary buying.
An ONS survey based on data collected between Nov. 5 and Nov. 30 showed cost of living was the most commonly reported issue among the important ones currently facing the UK, which is concerned by nearly 90 percent of the respondents.
Among the adults who planned to make Christmas purchases, 41 percent said they would reduce overall spending among efforts to help spread the cost of purchases this year, according to the survey. ■
