With a weak November performance

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This change in timing is accounted for by our seasonal adjustment approach. However, some retailers reported that Black Friday sales started well in advance of the official day. November’s increase in retail sales was driven by food stores sales volumes, which rose 0.5%, and non-food stores sales volumes, which were up 0.2%, per the release. The non-food stores category includes the total of department, clothing, household and other non-food stores. While that total was up, clothing stores sales fell by 2.

6% in November, dropping to their lowest poland email volumes since January 2022. Retailers attributed this decline to economic factors affecting sales, the release said. The British Retail Consortium said the overall November results showed that retail sales had stagnated. The group attributed this to higher energy bills, low consumer sentiment, mild weather that impacted sales of winter apparel, and consumers holding out for Black Friday sales. The final two months of the year account for over one-fifth of all sales, making it a period of vital importance — particularly for non-food, BRC Director of Insight Kris Hamer said in a Friday press release.

, retailers hope that shoppers come out in force in the final days before Christmas. Accounting and consulting firm RSM UK also said November’s retail sales were dampened by consumers holding out for Black Friday deals. The later than usual Black Friday weekend meant November’s retail sales figures saw only a slight uptick as cost-conscious consumers held off to bag a bargain, Jacqui Baker, head of retail at RSM U.K., said in a Friday press release.