UK Retail Sales Drop 0.1% in November Despite Black Friday

UK retail sales volumes declined by 0.1 percent in November, marking the second consecutive monthly drop and defying expectations of growth amid Black Friday promotions and pre-Christmas shopping, according to official data from the Office for National Statistics.

The unexpected fall followed a 0.9 percent decrease in October and came as households adopted a cautious approach to spending. Analysts had forecasted a 0.4 percent rise for the month, but persistent economic uncertainty, including anticipation surrounding the upcoming Budget, prompted many consumers to delay purchases. Food inflation continued to strain budgets, influencing decisions across various sectors. Year-on-year, sales volumes edged up by 0.6 percent, though they remained about 3 percent below pre-pandemic levels from 2019.

Supermarket sales, a key driver of overall retail activity, fell by 0.5 percent for the fourth straight month, with retailers citing reduced footfall in physical stores. Non-store retailing, which encompasses online sales as well as markets and stalls, experienced a sharper 2.9 percent drop, particularly among online jewelers where demand cooled after earlier spikes in precious metal...