Black Friday is the busiest ever, as Brits take advantage of the cost of living crisis to make the most of their sales

Black Friday was the busiest day of the year, as Brits seek to make the most of the crisis-era cost-of-living.

Nationwide Today data shows that Friday’s purchase volume increased by 10% compared to last year.

Since pre-pandemic, spending has increased by more that a third.

“This year’s Black Friday was the busiest ever, as people started Christmas shopping early and watched England’s draw against the USA in the World Cup,” stated Mark Nalder from Nationwide’s Director of Payment Strategy.

“While price-of-living pressures will undoubtedly lead to some people cutting back on luxury purchases, others have taken the opportunity to buy essential items at lower prices.”

Brits are increasingly turning toward sales shopping as the cost of living crisis cuts into their monthly budgets and savings.

In Exclusive interviewWith am city. Last week, Shimona Mehta from European e-commerce company Shopify called the Black Friday deals “the final cheat meal before you start eating a really big diet,” as Britons brace for worsening inflation.

“That they [shoppers] They are now looking to spend on really great, high quality and durable goods, as they look towards the need to cut back on spending next year as we enter a tougher economic time.”