Shoppers held back from visiting high streets over Black Friday , data shows, amid fears weak consumer spending will put the brakes on economic growth in 2026.

Visitors to all UK shopping destinations were down 2% on Friday and 7.2% compared with the equivalent days last year, according to the monitoring company MRI Software, with locations near central London offices among the few to experience a lift in visits.

While most Black Friday sales are now online, the picture there was also a mixed bag in the run-up to the big weekend. Sales down heavily on Thursday but up on Tuesday, according to the online retail association IMRG.

“The cost of living squeeze appears to be weighing on overall activity,” said Jenni Matthews from MRI.

The lacklustre data came as the consultancy KPMG highl

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