Consumers urged to watch out for Black Friday scams and bad deals – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news

• The Filter: The best Black Friday 2025 deals in the UK on the products we love

• ‘Black Fraud Day’: shoppers warned over Black Friday scams

Growing confidence that the Bank of England will cut interest rates next month could encourage some UK consumers to spend today.

The money markets now indicate there is a 94.2% chance that the Bank cuts base rate to 3.75% in December, down from 4%.

“The Budget delivered a smaller‑than‑expected fiscal tightening—around £18bn, or roughly 0.5% of GDP—and expanded fiscal headroom to about £22bn. That combination points to slightly stronger growth next year and a softer inflation profile, helped by measures that lower household energy bills and the continued fuel‑duty freeze.

“Taken together, the Budget is broadly neutral for monetary policy, but at the margin it increases the likelihood that the Bank of England will cut in December—taking Bank Rate from 4.00% to 3.75%—and guide towards a landing near 3.25% by mid‑2026

Black Friday spending in the UK is set to reach £6.4bn, 1.5% higher than last year

Interest in Black Friday falls to 46% from 53% of shoppers last year, but those participating will spend £262 per head, 13% more than in 2024

Men are set to increase their spending by 17% and will spend 43% more than women

Four out of every five pounds will be spent online, either for home delivery or click & collect, with younger shoppers most likely to physically spend on the high street