Black Friday high street woes

Black Friday failed to paper over the deepening cracks on Britain’s high streets and more high-profile closures are likely next year, according to advisory firm BDO.

Like-for-like sales at bricks and mortar retailers flatlined during Black Friday, recording disappointing growth of less than 0.5 per cent, according to BDO’S High Street Sales Tracker. Footfall on high streets was down 6.5 per cent compared to last year’s Black Friday week, representing the biggest drop in three years, the data shows.

Meanwhile, online retailers like-for-like sales growth of 30.8 per cent, the best week for non-store sales in the year to date and the strongest Black Friday week since 2014.

Sophie Michael, head of retail at BDO, said: “Retailers will be hugely disappointed with the flat in-store sales last week.

“Many have been manacled by a dire high street performance this year and forced to take part in Black Friday even at the cost of margin.”