Black Friday Week Delivered Solid Boost Across Retail Destinations

MRI Software’s latest footfall data shows Black Friday delivered a solid boost across UK retail destinations, with weekly footfall rising between +6.7% and +7.8% week on week across both reporting periods. High streets saw the strongest gains (up +8–10%), followed by shopping centres (+6–7%) and retail parks (~+4%).

Black Friday itself saw sizeable spikes, shopping centres jumped +14.8%, high streets +13.4%, and historic towns surged 23% as festive markets and seasonal attractions drew crowds. The early evening window was the standout trend, with 5–8 pm footfall soaring +29% week on week as shoppers combined bargain-hunting with Christmas lights switch-ons and after-work visits.

Central London continued to outperform, posting +13.4% weekly uplift and strong after-work footfall growth. The South West also saw double-digit week-on-week gains.

But despite robust week-on-week momentum, annual footfall remains 2–3% down overall, with shopping centres seeing the steepest year-on-year declines. MRI says this underlines a cautious consumer mood, and sets up a critical December as retailers look to turn rising traffic into spend.

Week 48 – SUN-SAT (23rd – 29th November – BF Week)

The week of Black Friday provided UK retail destinations with continued growth for the second consecutive week with footfall rising by +6.7% from the week before. This was driven by an +8.2% boost in high street visits, followed by a +6% uplift in shopping centres and a +4.1% rise in retail parks.

A relatively strong week revealed daily increases in visitor activity with double digit rises recorded in all UK retail destinations on Tuesday (+10.9%), Black Friday (+11.7%), and Saturday (+10.4%), week on week. Shopping centres saw the biggest bounce on Black Friday with a +14.8% uplift, followed by high streets (13.4%) and retail parks (5.1%). Historic towns led the charge with a 23.2% increase week on week, as seasonal attractions and festive markets likely drew in crowds.

However, the early evening period proved to be the real sweet spot. Between 5pm and 8pm, footfall jumped 29.2% week on week, suggesting many shoppers combined Black Friday bargain hunting with festive events. High streets - fuelled by Christmas lights, markets and after-work socialising - recorded year on year growth during this period with visits rising +3.9% versus declines in retail parks (-3.2%) and shopping centres (-4.3%). MRI Software’s Central London Back to Office benchmark recorded a notable boost, with footfall up by an average of +11.5% year on year and 16.7% week on week from 5pm to 11pm, suggesting that festive celebrations may have kicked off early.

Central London continued to lead the charge last week with overall footfall rising +13.4% week on week and +3.7% year on year. At a regional level, the South West thrived recording a +12.9% uplift compared to the week prior and a +4.8% rise year on year.

Yet the cost-of-living squeeze may well be weighing on overall activity, despite strong week on week gains, as annual levels remained -2.2% overall for the week of Black Friday. Shopping centres saw the sharpest drop of -3.8%, followed by high streets (-2.2%) and retail parks (-0.6%). Retail footfall on Black Friday also remained -1.9% lower compared to Black Friday last year with shopping centres (-3.6%), once again, leading the decline, followed by high streets (-2%) and retail parks (-0.1%).

These trends highlight that while shoppers may well be taking part in the early festive sales and events, discretionary spending remains cautious and points to a crucial December ahead as retailers focus on converting footfall into meaningful spend.

Week 48 – MON-SUN (24th – 20th November – BF Week)

The week of Black Friday provided UK retail destinations with continued growth for the second consecutive week with footfall rising by +7.8% from the week before. This was driven by an +9.8% boost in high street visits, followed by a +7.3% uplift in shopping centres and a +3.8% rise in retail parks.

A relatively strong week revealed daily increases in visitor activity with double digit rises recorded in all UK retail destinations on Tuesday (+10.9%), Black Friday (+11.7%), and Saturday (+10.4%), week on week. Shopping centres saw the biggest bounce on Black Friday with a +14.8% uplift, followed by high streets (13.4%) and retail parks (5.1%). Historic towns led the charge with a 23.2% increase week on week, as seasonal attractions and festive markets likely drew in crowds.

However, the early evening period proved to be the real sweet spot. Between 5pm and 8pm, footfall jumped 29.2% week on week, suggesting many shoppers combined Black Friday bargain hunting with festive events. High streets - fuelled by Christmas lights, markets and after-work socialising - recorded year on year growth during this period with visits rising +3.9% versus declines in retail parks (-3.2%) and shopping centres (-4.3%). MRI Software’s Central London Back to Office benchmark recorded a notable boost, with footfall up by an average of +11.5% year on year and 16.7% week on week from 5pm to 11pm, suggesting that festive celebrations may have kicked off early.

Central London continued to lead the charge last week with overall footfall rising +13.4% week on week and +2.3% year on year. At a regional level, the South West thrived recording a +12.6% uplift compared to the week prior and a +0.5% rise year on year.

Yet the cost-of-living squeeze may well be weighing on overall activity, despite strong week on week gains, as annual levels remained -2.5% overall for the week of Black Friday. Shopping centres saw the sharpest drop of -3.6%, followed by high streets (-2.6%) and retail parks (-0.9%). Retail footfall on Black Friday also remained -1.9% lower compared to Black Friday last year with shopping centres (-3.6%), once again, leading the decline, followed by high streets (-2%) and retail parks (-0.1%).

These trends highlight that while shoppers may well be taking part in the early festive sales and events, discretionary spending remains cautious and points to a crucial December ahead as retailers focus on converting footfall into meaningful spend.

Source : MRI Software

Image : William Barton / shutterstock / 753265135 

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