TOP NEWS: Omicron takes cheer out UK December retail sales

(Alliance News) - UK retail sales in December saw the largest monthly fall since January last ...

Alliance News 21 January, 2022 | 8:18AM
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(Alliance News) - UK retail sales in December saw the largest monthly fall since January last year as non-food store sales sunk, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed on Friday.

"Omicron's ominous arrival in December rudely interrupted the retail recovery party for high street stores," said Susannah Streeter, senior investment and markets analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.

UK retail sales fell 3.7% in December month-on-month with the decline driven by non-food store sales which fell 7.1%. Retailers reported that Omicron hit footfall last month.

"As more shoppers stayed away, hunkering down for more muted celebrations at home, tills were quieter and volumes lower, offering very little Christmas cheer for retailers," Streeter added.

Automotive fuel sales volumes fell by 4.7% as work from home guidance led to reduced travel.

Still, overall UK retail sales remained 2.6% above pre-virus levels.

"After strong pre-Christmas trading in November, retail sales fell across the board in December, with feedback from retailers suggesting Omicron impacted on footfall," said Heather Bovill, ONS deputy director for Surveys & Economic Indicators.

"As Plan B restrictions in England meant more people working from home, there was a notable fall for fuel sales. However, despite the fall in December, retail sales are still stronger than before the pandemic."

Hargreaves' Streeter noted that already two thirds of adults are reporting the cost of living has increased over the past four weeks.

"With more energy price rises on the way there are likely to be far fewer shoppers merrily splashing the cash in the months to come," Streeter said.

By Greg Roxburgh; gregroxburgh@alliancenews.com

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