Black Friday boosts high street sales

Black Friday and the colder weather helped boost high street sales last month, industry data showed on Tuesday.

According to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor, sales in the four weeks to 26 November rose 4.2%, compared to a rise of 5.0% a year earlier.

On a like-for-like basis, sales increased 4.1% from November 2021, when they rose 1.8%.

In the three months to November, food sales jumped 5.5% on a like-for-like basis, while non-food sales fell 0.4%.

The sales figures are not adjusted for inflation, however, meaning the rise in sales likely masked a "much larger" drop in volumes, the British Retail Consortium noted.

Helen Dickinson, BRC chief executive, said: "As the weather began to turn, customers were quick to purchase winter warmers, such as coats, hot water bottles and hooded blankets. Black Friday discounts also boosted sales of home furnishings, as many households traded big nights out for budget nights in.

"However, sales growth remained far below current inflation, suggesting volumes continued to be down on last year."

Paul Martin, UK head of retail at KPMG, said Black Friday had provided a "much-needed boost" both online and on the high street.

He continued: "Household appliances, footwear and furniture saw positive sales growth as consumers sought out good deals on designer items and started to prepare for Christmas gatherings at home.

"However, come categories such as toys, computing and baby equipment have now seen several months of negative sales figures that even the festive boost has not been able to reverse.

"As we enter the last crucial few weeks of the year, retailers will be hoping that consumers continue to focus on the Christmas feel good factor."

Susan Barratt, chief executive at IGD, said: "With inflation still driving accelerating top line growth, the UK market continue to see real terms decline in November."