The image is from the same source.
The spread of Omicron deterred shoppers from visiting the High Street in December.
The fall in clothing and other non-food sales was reported by the Office for National Statistics.
There were reports that there would be some shortages in the run-up to Christmas.
Volumes were above pre-pandemic 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 Office for National Statistics deputy director for surveys and economic indicators Heather Bovill.
Plan B restrictions in England meant more people were working from home, which led to a fall in fuel sales.
Despite the fall in December, retail sales are still stronger than before the Pandemic, with over a quarter of sales now made online.
Fuel volumes fell by 4.7% in December as more people worked from home and were 6.6% below their pre-pandemic levels.
Consumers did their Christmas shopping earlier than usual last year, according to the chief executive of The Works.
Some shoppers were starting festive purchases as early as September, according to Mr Peck, whose firm reported a strong rise in sales on Friday.
Retail sales in the UK rebounded quickly from their 2020 slump.
The combination of fast-rising inflation, the prospect of higher interest rates, and planned tax rises in April may affect the appetite of consumers to keep spending in 2022, according to analysts.
The image is from the same source.
There is an image caption.
In December, the restaurant chain saw a decline in customers.
December's fall was much bigger than expected, which could cause UK growth figures to be lower.
She said that with the Omicron outbreak seeming to have turned a corner and the government's Plan B restrictions due to be lifted next week, retail sales may recover a bit in January and February.
With the UK's cost of living crisis looming, we expect a weakened consumer recovery to hurt retail sales.
The Bank of England will continue to focus on inflation even though the economy has weakened, and she still expects interest rates to be raised to 0.50% in February.
Despite the lifting of Plan B restrictions, The Restaurant Group said that consumer confidence may take longer to recover.
December's Covid restrictions on trading were reflected in the company's sales figures.
In October and November, sales at the restaurant were up 11% and 8% compared to the same months in 2019.
In December, restaurant group's other divisions saw falls in sales as well as a 1% increase in Wagamama.
Retailing.
The economy of the UK.
The office of national statistics.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
