ONS: Political Uncertainty Hinders Retail Sales In November

Data from the ONS shows that retail sales fell in November as consumers held back from shopping amid Brexit and election uncertainty. 

Main Points:

• In the three months to November 2019, the quantity bought in retail sales decreased by 0.4% when compared with the previous three months; this is the first decline since April 2018.

• The quantity bought in November 2019 fell by 0.6% when compared with the previous month, with only household goods stores reporting growth.

• Year-on-year growth in the quantity bought increased by 1.0% in November 2019; this is the lowest growth since April 2018, owing to a decline of 1.1% in non-food stores.

• In 2019, the official Black Friday was on 29 November and outside our November reporting period, which covers four weeks from 27 October to 23 November; our seasonally adjusted estimates account for this shift in timing.

• Online sales as a proportion of all retailing was 18.7% in November 2019, compared with the 19.1% reported in October 2019.

ONS statistician Rhian Murphy said: "All main sectors saw their sales fall with the exception of food stores," 

In 2019, the official Black Friday was on 29 November; six days after the end of the ONS' November reporting period, which covers four weeks from 27 October to 23 November. The official Black Friday date will fall into the December release with only early promotions captured in November's estimates. 

See the latest Barclaycard date on November spending.

Source : Insight DIY Team and ONS

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