Early data from Nationwide suggests the UK retail sector may be on the brink of a major surge. Nationwide Bank is expecting 20.6 million transactions on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 December — marking a potential increase in consumer activity as shoppers rush to complete their festive buying. Retail surge driven by last-minute festive demand The imminent surge is part of a broader trend of strong seasonal demand. Nationwide’s prediction shows a 6.39% rise compared with the same dates in December 2024. This ...