RETAILERS were left with an empty feeling on Black Friday yesterday as many customers chose to stay away.

The promise of bumper annual deals failed to entice punters into stores jam-packed in past years.

But it was still likely to be the biggest sales day of 2022, while worst-case fears were allayed by sunny weather and a كأس العالم “feelgood factor”.

Economists said the first الجمعة السوداء without Covid restrictions since 2019 was blunted by the أزمة تكلفة المعيشة.

متصل التسوق also meant morning footfall yesterday was around 22 per cent down on pre-pandemic levels.

The aisles were quiet at أسدا في ويمبلي — which saw scenes of carnage on الجمعة السوداء في 2014 as shoppers scrapped over electrical deals.

Nationwide sales in the morning were said to be the same as last year, متي أوميكرون surges kept many at home.

Stores that would have previously attracted queues of overnight campers — like the تفاحة Store in Regent Street — instead reported business as usual.

Barclaycard Payments head Marc Pettican said: “Black Friday is off to a steady start, despite the challenging economic backdrop.

“It’s likely the feelgood factor in the run-up to the World Cup has given retail and hospitality a boost.”

كاري said rocketing bills boosted sales of energy-efficient air fryers, with more than 18,000 snapped up in a week.