UK Black Friday shopper numbers down 1.6% year-on-year -MRI Software

Shopper numbers across Britain on Black Friday were up 11.8% versus the previous week but fell 1.6% year-on-year, retail analysts MRI Software, said on Monday. For the full Black Friday week, MRI, formerly known as Springboard, said shopper numbers, or footfall, rose 7.9% on the previous week and were up 2.0% year-on-year.

Shopper numbers across Britain on Black Friday were up 11.8% versus the previous week but fell 1.6% year-on-year, retail analysts MRI Software, said on Monday.

For the full Black Friday week, MRI, formerly known as Springboard, said shopper numbers, or footfall, rose 7.9% on the previous week and were up 2.0% year-on-year. "All three destination types – high streets, shopping centres and retail parks – saw consistent rises in footfall throughout the week," Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, said.

Across the world, Black Friday appeared subdued compared with prior years. In Britain, retailers were looking to the discount day to get shoppers spending after a subdued October.

Official data published earlier this month showed British retail sales volumes fell unexpectedly in October, stoking recession fears.