Retail sales fell 0.6% in December, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The fifth consecutive month of no growth.
UK consumers failed to increase their spending in December 2019 for a fifth month in a row, adding to signs of a weakening economy. Will this encourage the Bank of England to cut interest rates.
Some economists had predicted better set of figures but Official data from the ONS on Friday showed monthly sales fell by 0.6% from November.
Monthly sales
The ONS reported that monthly sales have not risen since July, the longest such run since records. However, the longer-term picture is still one of growth.
Pressure on the UK high street doesn’t appear to be abating.
FTSE 100 gained on the day to touch 7690 in intra-day trading as at 13:00 GMT