Reuters reporting data from the UK for November:

BRC like-for-like sales -0.5% y/y

  • biggest drop since October of 2017
  • expected +0.3%, prior +0.1%

BRC total retail sales +0.5% y/y for November

  • +1.3% in October

Consumer spending (via Barclaycard) for October +3.3% y/y

  • slowest pace since March this year

Comments:

  • "Weak consumer demand and falling confidence mean that retailers are in for a nerve-wracking run up to Christmas," BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said. "Conditions in the industry have been particularly tough since the vote to leave the EU in 2016 and the current uncertainty has only compounded the challenges."
  • "It seems shoppers are yet to make their main Christmas purchases for friends, family and loved ones - despite many retailers offering Black Friday discounts to try and boost sales," Barclaycard director Esme Harwood said
  • Barclaycard said consumers' confidence in their finances was the lowest level since 2015, influenced by "ongoing economic and political uncertainty".