Retail sales fall in December as shoppers cut back

Retail income fell by 1% successful December, according to authoritative figures, arsenic shoppers chopped backmost connected spending.

The Office for National Statistics said that retailers told them "consumers are cutting backmost connected spending due to the fact that of accrued prices and affordability concerns".

There was a crisp driblet astatine non-food stores, but nutrient stores besides reported a autumn successful sales.

The ONS besides revised down figures for November.

It said that income volumes fell by 0.5% alternatively of the archetypal estimation of a 0.4% drop.

The ONS said the driblet successful nutrient income during December reinforced the presumption that radical stocked up for Christmas earlier. In November the measurement of retail income astatine nutrient stores roseate by 1%.

"After past month's boost arsenic shoppers stocked up early, nutrient income fell backmost again successful December with supermarkets reporting this was owed to summation nutrient prices and the rising outgo of living," said Heather Bovill, lawman manager for surveys and economical indicators astatine the ONS.

Online income besides fell betwixt November and December. The proportionality of online income dipped to 25.4% from 25.9% successful the erstwhile month.

Ms Bovill said feedback from retailers indicated "postal strikes were starring radical towards purchasing much goods instore".