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UK retail sales up 0.3% in November UK retail sales up 0.3% in November
(35 minutes later)
UK retail sales rose last month, official figures have shown, as the colder weather boosted sales of warm clothing. UK retail sales rose last month, official figures show, as the colder weather boosted sales of warm clothing.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said sales increased by 0.3% in November compared with the month before. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said sales rose by 0.3% in November from the month before, and were up 2% from a year earlier.
Compared with a year earlier, sales were up 2%, the ONS said. The increase was driven by a 3.8% rise in sales of shoes, clothes and textiles.
Sales of shoes, clothes and textiles increased by 3.8% in November. The ONS also noted "record" online sales. Online sales hit a record, the ONS said, reaching 11.9% of total sales when spending on fuel is excluded.
It said investment by department stores into their websites had boosted the sales, but "detracted from sales in store". However, sales in department stores fell by 3.1% in the month.
Sales in department stores fell by 3.1% throughout the month. Retailing is seen as a key indicator of consumer confidence, as when people are spending money in the shops, it is generally held the economy must be doing better.
'Decent increase''Decent increase'
The British Retail Consortium said sales in November had been slow at first, but then picked up as the colder weather sparked an increase in the sales of winter clothing.The British Retail Consortium said sales in November had been slow at first, but then picked up as the colder weather sparked an increase in the sales of winter clothing.
David Tinsley, UK economist at BNP Paribas, said the ONS figures were in line with expectations and showed a "decent monthly increase".David Tinsley, UK economist at BNP Paribas, said the ONS figures were in line with expectations and showed a "decent monthly increase".
He said there would need to be a "very large rise" in December for sales across the fourth quarter not to look "considerably weaker". "Over the fourth quarter as a whole the pace of retail sales has dipped, but this may reflect a pause rather than a downtrend," he said.
Mr Tinsley said: "A softer retail picture may help assuage some fears that growth is currently just being driven by consumer spending." "A softer retail picture may help assuage some fears that growth is currently just being driven by consumer spending."