Black Friday footfall rebounded over the weekend after a slow start on Friday, according to data from Sensormatic Solutions and MRI Software. Both reports show that while early trading lagged behind last year, shopper numbers picked up through Saturday and Sunday, driven by high streets, shopping centres, and festive events in historic towns.
MRI reported an 11.3% uplift in footfall by 5pm Friday compared to the previous week, led by shopping centres (+14.7%) and high streets (+12.5%). Historic towns saw the biggest bounce, up 24.1% week-on-week, boosted by festive markets and seasonal events. However, overall activity was still 3.3% below Black Friday 2024, with high streets (-4.3%) and shopping centres (-4.4%) trailing last year.
Sensormatic’s ShopperTrak data shows the weekend ended on a positive note: UK footfall rose 0.7% year-on-year, with Sunday (30 Nov) up 5% vs 2024 and 13.2% week-on-week. High streets led gains, climbing 13.5% year-on-year on Sunday, while shopping centres rose 2.8%.
MRI’s Consumer Pulse research suggests high streets could be the season’s biggest winners, with 24% of shoppers planning festive visits, combining deal-hunting with dining and entertainment.
Consumer caution remains an issue
“Consumer caution is disrupting demand patterns, shifting buying behaviours and creating spend hesitancy,” said Andy Sumpter, Sensormatic Solutions EMEA Retail Consultant. “However, despite a mixed start, retailers have cause for cautious optimism, with polling suggesting it’s a case of ‘when’ not ‘if’ consumers will buy.”
While physical visits improved, online sales were set to dominate BFCM (Black Friday Cyber Monday). Global data from Shopify Merchants for Black Friday through Sunday night shows that, on Black Friday, their merchants’ total 2025 sales were $6.2 billion – up 24% from last year, 22% on a constant currency basis.
UK shoppers were predicted to spend an average of £123 online on Black Friday, with younger adults (25–34) spending around £255 each, according to polling by Nationwide. IMRG data indicates e-commerce continued its strong growth, with UK consumers expected to spend £14 billion online across the Black Friday weekend, driven by convenience and aggressive discounting.
However, with a growing number of UK retailers opting out of BFCM due to margin pressures and increased operational costs, it remains to be seen whether the shopping event delivers the expected profit boost along with the increased footfall and website traffic.
Looking ahead, Sensormatic predicts Super Saturday (20 Dec) will be the busiest shopping day, with 23 Dec ranking third. Retailers are urged to use data and streamline experiences to capture sales during peak trading.
Stay informed
Our editor carefully curates two newsletters a week filled with up-to-date news, analysis and research, click here to subscribe to the FREE newsletter sent straight to your inbox and why not follow us on LinkedIn to receive the latest updates on our research and analysis.
