UK refrains from hitting high street on Black Friday as fears grow over economy

Data comes as KPMG highlights soft consumer spending as one factor likely to hold back growth in 2026

Shoppers held back from visiting high streets over Black Friday, data shows, amid fears weak consumer spending will put the brakes on economic growth in 2026.

Visitors to all UK shopping destinations were down 2% on Friday and 7.2% compared with the equivalent days last year, according to the monitoring company MRI Software, with locations near central London offices among the few to experience a lift in visits.