Retail sales unexpectedly fall in Great Britain in run-up to Christmas

Retail sales in Great Britain unexpectedly declined by 0.1% in November, according to the Office for National Statistics, defying economists' expectations of a 0.4% increase. The slump occurred during the crucial pre-Christmas period, with Black Friday sales proving weaker than usual. Non-store retailers, primarily online, saw a significant drop of 2.9%, and supermarket sales also fell for the fourth consecutive month. Analysts attribute the decline to factors like dampened consumer confidence due to speculation around tax hikes and poor weather, despite a slight increase in non-food store sales. This marks the second consecutive month of sales decline, following a revised 0.9% drop in October.

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