This year’s Black Friday is set to be the ‘busiest ever’

This year’s Black Friday is set to be the “busiest ever” as shoppers take to the high streets and are buying online, spending data shows.

Barclays has revealed that the volumes of people buying in the build up to Black Friday was higher than last year.

Banking group Barclays data shows that in the week to Wednesday, half of the UK’s credit card and direct debit card transactions was up 1.4% compared to the same period last year.

Marc Pettican, the head of Barclaycard Payments, said, “Over the last few years we’ve seen Black Friday sales arrive earlier and earlier, with shoppers spreading their spending over a longer period of time.

“Although the cost of living may be impacting some shoppers’ spending on non-essential items, many are still taking the opportunity to bag a Black Friday bargain.”

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On Friday Nationwide Building Society said that shoppers have been buying more this year than last and by midday 3.22 million transactions was made, this is 14% higher than any other Friday and compared to last year’s Black Friday this is 5% higher.

Nationwide added that it is also 13% higher than Black Friday in 2021, which comes as retailers have launched sales and shopping deals in the run up to Christmas.

Mark Nalder, director of payment strategy at Nationwide, said the data suggests that “this year’s Black Friday is going to be the busiest one ever.”

“Our data shows that bargain hunters are already out in force with the number of transactions made by 9am up 15% compared to the same period on Black Friday last year,” Nalder added.