Total UK retail sales increased 1.4% year on year in November, compared with a 3.3% decline a year earlier, but this remained below the 12‑month average growth rate of 2.5%.
During the four weeks covering 2 - 29 November 2025, sales of non-food categories, which include clothing, rose 0.1% year on year.
This is an improvement after a 7.9% fall in November 2024, but it remained below the 12‑month average growth of 1.6%.
Clothing’s contribution to total sales fell by 0.2 percentage points, and footwear by 0.1 percentage points.
Within non-food, in-store sales declined 0.3%, while online non-food sales increased 0.5%, both below their 12‑month averages of 1% and 2.5% respectively.
The online penetration rate for non-food increased to 44% in November from 43.8% in November 2024, above the 12‑month average of 37.3%.
BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Pre-Budget jitters among shoppers meant the month of Black Friday did not deliver as strongly as retailers had hoped or the economy needed. Not unexpectedly, online dominated, with the proportion of non-food bought online reaching its highest level since 2022. Many consumers took advantage of promotions, with homeware and upholstery selling well ahead of festive hosting. Fashion lagged, especially with the mild first half of November dampening demand for winterwear.”
“Retailers continue to invest in Christmas offerings, building up stock levels, and promoting festive products. It has been a difficult year as retailers grappled with ever-rising cost pressures. Looking ahead to 2026, it is time public policy started prioritising measures to revive consumer confidence and keep costs of doing business down so retailers can focus on growth strategies to maximise their contribution to economic recovery.”
