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Black Friday statistics
Brits plan to spend more than £7 billion on Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales this year.
Last updated:
This year, Black Friday falls on November 23. As one of the biggest shopping days in the UK, it’s sure to cause a rush with heavy discounts and one-off deals. In fact, Brits plan to spend an estimated £7 billion on Black Friday and Cyber Monday purchases this year alone, according to our latest research.
How much will we spend?
On average, Brits plan to spend an estimated £220 each on Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales this year. This is a significant decrease from last year, where our study found the average bargain hunter planned to spend £304 in the sales.
However, more Brits are planning on taking part. Last year, 36% of adults planned to do so, whereas this year that number has gone up to 62%.
This means that although the average spend per person has fallen, the total amount spent is likely to be higher: rising from £4.5 billion to £7 billion.
Average spend by gender
| Gender | Average spend |
|---|---|
| Men | £234 |
| Women | £206 |
Men intend to spend more than women, at £234 compared with £206.
Generation
Gen Xers take out the generational spending cake, with plans to spend £264 on average. Baby boomers are hot on their tracks, sitting at £214; those aged 18-35 plan to be a bit more careful with their money, aiming to part with £190 on average this year.
| Generation | Average spend |
|---|---|
| 18-35 year olds | £190 |
| Gen Xers | £264 |
| Baby Boomers | £214 |
Region
People in the north-east of England plan to spend the most (£286), followed by Northern Ireland residents (£285) and Londoners (£279). In contrast, those residing in the south-west of England plan to spend the least (£139).
| Region | 2017 - Avg. spend Black Friday and Cyber Monday | 2018 - Avg. spend Black Friday and Cyber Monday |
|---|---|---|
| East Anglia | £263 | £228 |
| East Midlands | £206 | £202 |
| London | £534 | £279 |
| North East | £191 | £286 |
| North West | £209 | £193 |
| Northern Ireland | £189 | £285 |
| Scotland | £246 | £253 |
| South East | £236 | £190 |
| South West | £363 | £139 |
| Wales | £192 | £185 |
| West Midlands | £188 | £233 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £221 | £204 |
Are people getting the best value for their money by spending during sale time?
Sales regret
This decrease may mean we’re learning from experience. Last year, 21% of Brits purchased something on Black Friday/Cyber Monday that they later regretted, spending an estimated average of £83 on each of these items.
Gender
A quarter (25%) of men have admitted to regretting an item they’ve purchased during Black Friday/Cyber Monday, significantly more than women, who sit at 18%. Despite this, men still plan to spend more this year, with the average man predicted to spend £234, compared to £206 for women.
Generation
18-35 year olds are the most likely to be purchasing items during Black Friday/Cyber Monday that they later regret. Almost a third (30%) have admitted to making such purchases, spending an average of £68 each on these. Gen X follow, with 24% of them doing so and spending an average of £112. 13% of Baby Boomers have felt post-purchase regret, spending an average of £76, making them the least likely generation to feel regret after buying a Black Friday/Cyber Monday item.
Region
Those residing in Northern Ireland are the most likely to have experienced sales regret, with 35% doing so, wasting £66 this way on average. London and the North East are next in line at 26%, spending £82 and a shocking £229 on regretted purchases respectively.
The East Midlands are the least guilty of this mistake, with only 13% of them admitting to regretting last year’s Black Friday purchases, at an average spend of just £45.
How long do we hold off buying?
With so many discounts just around the corner, it’s common to hold off spending in the lead-up to massive sales. In fact, 37% of Brits have deferred dropping pounds on clothing, electronics, major appliances and furniture until the release of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. Better safe than sorry, right?
Of those hanging out for a bargain, holding out for a few weeks is the most common (14%), followed by one- to two-months (13%), three to six months (8%) and a patient seven to eleven months (1%). There are even 1% of us willing to wait an entire year before taking on our next bargain shopping spree!
What do we buy?
Black Friday can be a great time to shop a whole host of products, but what are the most popular items that we buy on Black Friday?
Search data shows that the most popular items to buy on the shopping holiday are tech items such as TVs, and games consoles with the Nintendo Switch being a frontrunner for search volume with PS4 and Xbox searches following close behind. Black Friday is also a popular day for shopping home goods (especially large items such as furniture and appliances) and beauty products.
Click here for more research. For all media enquiries, please contact:
Matt Mckenna
UK Communications Manager
T: +44 20 8191 8806
UK Communications Manager
T: +44 20 8191 8806
Check out our Black Friday hub where you can find hundreds of deals at up to 80% off, all in one place.
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