| − | New data showed that footfall in Britain's shopping centres is down 29.6 per cent compared to 2019<br>Black Friday sales have already hit a record high today - despite High Street footfall decreasing - with shoppers' spending expected to hit some £9billion. <br> Retailers across the UK are poised for [https://www.fastdistromusic.com/ free music distribution reddit] a record day of seasonal sales as early data showed shoppers are spending more than they did before the pandemic. <br>In spite of data that shows footfall in [ http:// dig. ccmixter. org/search? searchp= Britain%27s% 20shopping Britain's shopping] centres is down 29.6 per cent compared to 2019, industry insiders say this year could be the UK's most lucrative Black Friday ever, with an average spend of £300 and fashion, electricals and health and beauty topping consumer spending this year. <br> At peak times on Friday, Boots was recording three sales every second on its webpage. John Lewis sold 17,191 items in just one hour between 9am and 10am. <br><br>Most searches were for Apple Watches, iPads, Airpods and Lego. <br>Elsewhere, eBay processed two Adele CD orders every minute. Other big winners on the day included Currys, which average 56 online purchases every minute on Friday. <br>Barclaycard said that as of 1pm, transactions were up 23.3 per cent compared with the same date in 2020. Nationwide also announced its customers had made 1.3 million online transactions by 9am, up almost a quarter on last year. <br>Rob Cameron, chief executive officer of Barclaycard Payments, said: 'It's clear that there is still appetite for the savings that are to be had, and consumers are making the most of shops being open to pick up a festive bargain.<br>'Retailers will also be pleased to see their sales volumes have recovered to pre- pandemic levels, and have surpassed those seen in 2019.<br>'So far the data looks extremely promising and we should be set for one of the most successful Black Friday shopping sprees on record.'<br>Known as the 'golden period' for retailers in the run-up to the festive period, Black Friday shoppers' spending has eclipsed that of the entirety of the Christmas week sales in recent years. <br> And although it was traditionally limited to November 26, major outlets including , Currys, GAME and have all planned for longer sales in 2021, despite lingering concerns affecting stock levels and delivery driver recruitment stalling. <br> Meanwhile, 85 per cent of independent retailers have said they will opt out of any Black Friday deals, with many saying they will instead protect the High Street after struggling through the pandemic. <br> more videos <br><br> DM.later('bundle', function()<br>DM.molFeCarousel.init('#p-19', 'channelCarousel', <br>"activeClass" : "wocc",<br>"pageCount" : "3.0",<br>"pageSize" : 1,<br>"onPos": 0,<br>"updateStyleOnHover": true<br>);<br>);<br>WESTFIELD SHOPPING CENTRE, LONDON: Known as the 'golden period' for retailers in the run-up to the festive period, Black Friday shoppers' spending has eclipsed that of the entirety of the Christmas week sales in recent years<br> MANCHESTER: Consumers braved a wet and windy start to Friday to queue for Black Friday bargains at Footlocker at around 8am<br> NEWCASTLE: Keen shoppers queue outside JD Sports on Northumberland Street in Newcastle as it prepares to open on Black Friday<br> Industry insiders are predicting 2021 could be the most lucrative Black Friday ever seen in Britain, with an average spend of £300 and fashion, electricals and health and beauty topping consumer spending this year<br> more videos <br><br>DM.later('bundle', function()<br>DM.molFeCarousel.init('#p- 28', 'channelCarousel', <br>"activeClass" : "wocc",<br>"pageCount" : "3.0",<br>"pageSize" : 1,<br>"onPos": 0,<br>"updateStyleOnHover": true<br>);<br>);<br>NEWCASTLE: Shoppers pack onto a busy Northumberland Street, Newcastle as Black Friday offers brought out large crowds<br> OXFORD STREET: In 2020 consumers were tightening the purse strings, which had a knock-on effect for retailers, amid financial uncertainties caused by the pandemic.<br> <br>This year, they've returned to the shops in force as seen in Zara (above) in London's West End <br> OXFORD STREET: Shoppers line Oxford Street on Friday as experts predict 2021 could the most lucrative Black Friday ever<br> LONDON: A very quiet Oxford Street shopping area in west London on Black Friday at 8am, with tube strikes and online sales having a knock- on effect for in-store purchases <br> LONDON: By 10am on Friday morning, shoppers started to arrive in bigger numbers to browse the deals on offer at stores on Oxford Street<br> Shoppers make their way along Oxford Street on Black Friday, in central London on November 26<br> OXFORD STREET: A woman clutched shopping bags from Selfridges and Nespresso as she made the most of the Black Friday deals in central London<br> Analysts have therefore predicted that shoppers will be keen to spend extra in a bid to make up for last year and have bumper Christmas celebrations with their families.<br><br>Pictured: Shoppers carry bags along Regent Street in London on Friday<br> LONDON: Accounting specialists Pwc are predicting shopping splurges to double what they were last year when the UK was in lockdown, with up to £8.7billion [https://www. cbsnews. com/ search/ ?q=expected expected] to be spent across the country amid fire sales today<br> OXFORD STREET: Despite advertising big Black Friday sales, several stores in Oxford Street, west London including John Lewis and Primark saw little to no queues on Friday morning<br> TYNESIDE: Not a single person could be seen queuing as the doors opened at 8am at a Currys electrical store in North Tyneside on Black Friday<br> Shoppers shelter from the rain beneath umbrellas as they they carry their purchases in shopping bags on Black Friday in central London<br> OXFORD STREET: There was a quiet start to the sales in Oxford Street, London, on Black Friday as experts predicted that up to £8.7billion could be spent <br> Shoppers shelter from the rain beneath umbrellas as they they carry their purchases in shopping bags on Black Friday in central London<br> OXFORD STREET: Thousands of people have descended on West London's popular shopping spot on Black Friday<br> The scenes in British shops are a far cry from 2014, the year after Asda imported the tradition from the US, when thousands of shoppers camped out overnight and dashed into stores to get their hands on discounted items.<br><br>Pictured: An empty JD in Oxford Street, west London<br> more videos <br><br>DM.later('bundle', function()<br>DM.molFeCarousel.init('#p-61', 'channelCarousel', <br>"activeClass" : "wocc",<br>"pageCount" : "3.0",<br>"pageSize" : 1,<br>"onPos": 0,<br>"updateStyleOnHover": true<br>);<br>);<br><div class="art-ins mol-factbox news halfRHS" data-version="2" id="mol- 2513a670- 4ed8- 11ec- 9711- 51aefb96a016" website say £8bn to be spent on Black Friday as shoppers shun stores | + | title rivals and face off on Saturday in the Community Shield after a busy summer of transfer activity.<br> Both the reigning champions and winners have shuffled their packs ahead of next campaign and this clash at the King Power Stadium offers fans a [ https:// search. usa. gov/search? affiliate=usagov&query= perfect% 20opportunity perfect opportunity] to see their refreshed squads in action.<br> With a [https://www. cga. edu. au/course/provide-first-aid/ first aid gold coast] shot at silverware on the line for both City and Liverpool, Sportsmail has assessed their pre- season form, reviewed their new signings and analysed the impact of their departures ahead of the Community Shield clash.<br> Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have overseen significant changes to their squads this summer<br> Pre-season formMan City's tour of America did not kick off the way Pep Guardiola would have hoped. <br> <br> Phil Foden, John Stones and Ilkay Gundogan travelled to Croatia with the under- 23s after failing to meet US entry protocols, while Aymeric Laporte, who is still recovering from a knee injury, was forced to stay at home.<br> But the Premier League champions prevailed in both outings during the brief pre-season tour, winning 2-1 against Club America and 1- 0 against Bayern Munich.<br> Kevin De Bruyne impressed for [https://www. 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