UK retail sales sink in Black Friday aftermath

A sharp fall in UK retail sales during December has rounded off what was a very tough year for both consumers and retailers. That said, the 1.6% month-on-month fall in spending during December should be treated with some caution, not least because the change in shopping habits initiated by Black Friday makes the data a nightmare to seasonally adjust. But those difficulties aside, the latest data does suggest the festive period was a tough time for retailers, many of whom had to offer steep discounts in the final weeks before Christmas at the expense of margins.

Looking ahead, we see few catalysts for a recovery in spending over the next few months. Whilst prices in general have largely adjusted to the post-Brexit weakening in the pound, food and fuel costs are continuing to rise. And whilst signs of skills shortages in certain sectors have prompted the Bank of England to forecast a sharp acceleration in wage growth, there is also a risk that some firms remain cautious, as economic demand and other input cost pressures continue to bite. Putting this together, real disposable incomes are likely to remain at best flat over the next few months.