RETAIL SALES FALL AT SHARPEST RATE SINCE COVID – Food sales also declined in the run-up to Christmas

Retail sales volumes fell by 3.2% in December in the sharpest drop since the UK was in a Covid lockdown.

Official figures revealed a sharp fall in demand for goods, but food sales also declined in the run-up to Christmas.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said it appeared people did their shopping earlier in November, taking advantage of Black Friday sales.

It meant that retail sales tumbled at the fastest rate since January 2021.

The ONS said the amount of non-food products people bought in December fell by 3.9%. That compares to a 2.7% increase in November.

Food demand was also down at the end of the year, falling 3.1%.In November, food sales rose by 1.1%.