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Black Friday and Christmas shopping has failed to lure people back to the high streets as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that retail sales have fallen by 0.4% in November 2022.
The recent statistics follow a 0.6% rise in October when retail bounced back from the impact of an additional Bank Holiday in September for the State Funeral.
According to the ONS, online retailers also saw a fall of 2.8% in their sales volumes in November, which continues a downward trend that was experienced early 2021.
It is also reported that non-food stores sales volumes fell by 0.6% in November 2022 and were 1.8% below February 2020 levels, while food store sales volumes rose by 0.9% in November 2022. Anecdotal evidence from retailers suggests that customers stocked up early for Christmas.
Darren Morgan, director of economic statistics at ONS, said: “Retail sales fell overall in November, driven by a notable drop for online retailers, with Black Friday offers failing to provide their usual lift in this sector.
“However, department stores and household goods shops did report increased sales with these retailers telling us a longer period of Black Friday discounting helped boost sales.”
He added: “Food and alcohol sales were also up with consumers stocking up early to try to spread the cost of Christmas festivities.”
