Retail sales fell for the first time in nine months in December, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
Its latest survey showed like-for-like sales falling by 0.2 per cent in December, following a 0.9 per cent rise in November. Total sales grew by just 2.3 per cent. This was well down on the growth of 3.6 per cent reported in the year to November.
BRC director general Bill Moyes said that it appeared little Christmas shopping took place before the 19th of the month, when sales of groceries and electrical goods picked up.
“The last-minute surge was not enough to make up for a slow start. The consumers' willingness to shop has slowed significantly since the summer and the Bank of England cannot rely on consumer spending continuing to grow at the levels needed by the economy.
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