Shoppers are set to splurge this Black Friday, with experts predicting this could be the biggest shopping event in the UK yet despite a lack of deals.
Analysts PwC predict that £8.7bn will be spent by shoppers today, up from £7.8bn in 2019 and more than double the amount spent during last year’s locked down event.
This spree comes despite many major brands, including Marks & Spencer and Next, not taking part in Black Friday and with customers being warned to expect less generous discounts and some availability issues.
PwC predicted that 60% of UK adults would participate in the Sale, spending on average £280 each.
However, Linda Ellett, head of consumer markets at analysts KPMG, told the BBC deals were likely to be worse this year as retailers struggled with global supply issues linked to the pandemic, and shortages of HGV drivers and warehouse staff.
“As rising costs start to bite hard into margins and supply chain issues impact the availability of goods, it leaves very little room for the mega discounting events we have seen in previous years,” she said.
eBay UK general manager Murray Lambell said the ongoing supply chain issues are a “shadow” over this year’s Black Friday event, adding: “The first big test of our fragile retail supply chain since freight costs have skyrocketed, factories have closed in Asia amid new lockdowns, and the HGV driver shortage takes its toll.”
The inherent consumerism of the event, which first started in the US as a single day of sales but has since evolved into a month-long Sales period, has also prompted backlash from certain consumer groups.
Climate activists Extinction Rebellion have this morning begun blockading 13 Amazon depots in the UK, causing “severe delays” for its delivery drivers.
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