Shoppers took to their laptops and flocked to high streets on Black Friday in what is expected to be one of the busiest retail days of 2023 – but early indications are that this will be a more muted affair compared with previous years.
Sales in cash terms are expected to be on a par with 2022, but prices are higher due to a year of rampant inflation, meaning fewer items will actually be sold over the US-inspired discount period. By lunchtime on Friday, some retailers had seen a slight uplift, but online activity was flat and footfall down more than 5% at shopping destinations.
