Economic activity and social change in the UK, real-time indicators: -11 December 2025

12th December 2025

Total UK retail footfall remained broadly unchanged in the week to 7 December 2025, compared with the previous week, but decreased by 1% when compared with the equivalent week of 2024 (BT Active Intelligence).

The most reported challenge affecting turnover for trading businesses in early December 2025 was "economic uncertainty" at 33%, followed by "cost of labour" (21%), "cost of materials" and "competition" (both 20%) (initial results from Wave 146 of the Business Insights and Conditions Survey).

Around 1 in 3 adults who currently pay mortgage or rent payments reported that they were finding it very or somewhat difficult affording these payments in November 2025 (35%); this increased from 26% in October 2025 (initial findings for November 2025 from our latest Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN), to be published on 18 December 2025).

The System Average Price (SAP) of gas decreased by 7% in the week to 7 December 2025, compared with the previous week, and decreased by 40% when compared with the equivalent week of 2024 (National Gas Transmission).

The seasonally adjusted number of daily UK flights decreased by 1% in the week to 7 December 2025, compared with the previous week, but increased by 4% when compared with the equivalent week of 2024 (EUROCONTROL).

The seasonally adjusted number of new vehicle registrations in the UK decreased by 1% in November 2025, compared with the previous month, and decreased by 5% when compared with November 2024 (based on original data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)).

The number of Energy Performance Building Certificates (EPCs) lodged in England and Wales for new dwellings increased by 27% in the week to 7 December 2025, compared with the previous week, and increased by 4% when compared with the equivalent week of 2024 (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government).

Read the full ONS report HERE

Debit/Card Spending Trends
Overall consumer card spending in the UK appears to have slowed or fallen in November 2025 compared with prior months, as households tighten their budgets ahead of the Budget and amid economic uncertainty. According to Barclays data, card spending fell by about 1.1% year-on-year in November—the steepest drop since early 2021. That includes both debit and credit card transactions and reflects subdued consumer demand.

For October 2025, surveys reported that UK consumer spending was already cooling as people waited for sales (like Black Friday) and budget announcements, suggesting subdued card spending during the month.

Specific Debit Card Data
ONS real-time indicators show that Revolut debit card spending in early November decreased compared with the previous week (falling by about 7% for the week to 9 November), though it remained significantly higher year-on-year than the equivalent week in 2024.

For late October (week to 26 October), unrevised weekly data also showed a modest weekly decrease in total debit card spending relative to the prior week, though again higher compared with the same week of 2024.

What This Means
Between October and November 2025, the monthly trend suggests that overall card spending cooled rather than grew in November. While the ONS data gives weekly movements (with some year-on-year increases), headline monthly consumer card spend (including debit cards) softened in November compared with broader earlier indicators, driven by lower discretionary consumption and economic caution.
Reuters

The data doesn't yet show full official monthly totals for debit card spending alone, but all indications from the ONS and Barclays tracking are that spending slowed or declined through this period.