{
  "id": 19247864,
  "title": "Shoppers hold back spending ahead of Black Friday",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/shoppers-hold-back-spending-ahead-of-black-friday",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-10T00:01:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/shoppers-hold-back-spending-ahead-of-black-friday/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "British consumers are showing restraint before Black Friday, causing additional hardship for merchants following last month's Budget, which failed to provide the anticipated boost. Retail sales in the UK grew by 1.5 percent year-on-year, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), slightly below the 1.6 percent increase in the period leading up to October 2025. The growth in food sales decelerated from 3.5 percent last year to 3.2 percent in October, yet it remained higher than the average three percent growth observed over the past three months. The holiday season, which began on a Saturday, contributed to increased spending on treats, costumes, and decorations, the BRC reported. However, high-cost items such as furniture experienced lower-than-expected interest as shoppers prioritize saving for upcoming Black Friday bargains. The government's advice for households to stock up on essentials, including canned food and bottled water, led to higher demand for such items, the BRC noted. Retailers expressed surprise at the advice, raising concerns that a rush on stores might result in shortages of necessities. Stuart Machin, CEO of Marks & Spencer, stated that the guidance has negatively impacted consumer sentiment, \"concerning\" shoppers. Helen Dickinson, BRC chief executive, expressed hope that \"pent-up demand will translate into stronger spending through November and December\" as retailers strive to offer a wide selection and value to households during the Christmas season. However, Dickinson emphasized that retailers face mounting expenses, including rising interest rates and energy bills, which exacerbate the pressures already driving prices up. The government's failure to address business taxes and regulations at the recent Budget angered retail executives, who criticized the freeze on business rates for high street firms, citing that the tax will still rise in line with inflation. Linda Ellett, KPMG's UK head of consumer markets, who provided the BRC's sales figures, explained that colder temperatures prompted shoppers to seek \"cozy essentials\" like duvets in October. She added that, despite the cautious approach due to higher household costs and anticipation of Black Friday deals, overall sales growth was modest. Nonetheless, growth will be appreciated by a retail sector that urgently needs strong sales to counteract increasing costs as the promotional and festive season gains momentum.",
  "summary": "British shoppers are holding back on spending ahead of Black Friday, dealing a further blow to retailers after they missed out on significant support at last month’s Budget. Total retail sales in the UK increased by 1.5 per cent year-on-year, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), against growth of 1.6 per cent in the [...]",
  "key_points": [
    "British consumers are spending cautiously ahead of Black Friday.",
    "Food sales growth slowed to 3.2 percent in October.",
    "Retailers worry about shortages due to government advice to stock up on essentials."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Cautious consumer behavior and government guidance on stockpiling essentials are squeezing retail margins as merchants struggle to offset rising operational costs and underwhelming post-budget growth.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}