UK retail sales dip 3.3% in November

UK total retail sales decreased by 3.3% year on year in November, against a growth of 2.6% in November 2023, the British Retail Consortium showed.

According to the new figures, this was below the 3-month average growth of -0.1% and the 12-month average growth of 0.5%. However, the BRC said that Black Friday did not fall into this month’s figures.

Meanwhile, food sales increased 2.4% year on year over the three months to November, against a growth of 7.6% in November 2023 – but the result is still below the 12-month average growth of 3.7%.

However, non-food sales decreased 2.1% year on year during the period, against a decline of 1.6% in November 2023.

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. 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 and not diminished and that customers get spending in the remaining weeks running up to Christmas. The Budget, as well as the introduction of new packaging levies, will cost retailers over £7bn extra next year. How effectively the government works the industry to mitigate these costs will determine the extent of price rises and job losses in the future.”

Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, retail and leisure, 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.”