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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Retail sales boosted by Black Friday | Retail sales boosted by Black Friday |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| UK retail sales rose at their fastest annual rate in more than 10 years in November, thanks to the effects of Black Friday, official figures show. | UK retail sales rose at their fastest annual rate in more than 10 years in November, thanks to the effects of Black Friday, official figures show. |
| Sales rose 6.4% compared with November last year, the highest annual increase since May 2004. | Sales rose 6.4% compared with November last year, the highest annual increase since May 2004. |
| On a monthly basis they rose by 1.6%, with growth in all areas for the first time since December 2013. | On a monthly basis they rose by 1.6%, with growth in all areas for the first time since December 2013. |
| US-style discounts for Black Friday took off in the UK this year, with stores seeing record sales. | US-style discounts for Black Friday took off in the UK this year, with stores seeing record sales. |
| Electrical goods sales jumped 32% from a year earlier and sales at department stores were up 15%, both of which were the biggest increases since records began in 1988, the Office for National Statistics said. | Electrical goods sales jumped 32% from a year earlier and sales at department stores were up 15%, both of which were the biggest increases since records began in 1988, the Office for National Statistics said. |
| Online sales increased by 12.9% compared with last year. | Online sales increased by 12.9% compared with last year. |
| Lower prices | |
| "These numbers verify the shift in spending patterns happening in the final quarter of the year. Black Friday led to unprecedented demand," said Natalie Berg from Planet Retail. | "These numbers verify the shift in spending patterns happening in the final quarter of the year. Black Friday led to unprecedented demand," said Natalie Berg from Planet Retail. |
| "What we don't know is to what extent did this simply bring spending forward," she continued. "I suspect it slowed in the first couple of weeks in December." | "What we don't know is to what extent did this simply bring spending forward," she continued. "I suspect it slowed in the first couple of weeks in December." |
| Average retail prices fell by 2% compared with last year, the largest fall since August 2002, mainly due to the large drop in petrol prices. | Average retail prices fell by 2% compared with last year, the largest fall since August 2002, mainly due to the large drop in petrol prices. |
| Prices at food stores were also lower, recording their largest fall in since June 2002. | Prices at food stores were also lower, recording their largest fall in since June 2002. |
| "The decline in store prices reflects fierce competition in the retail sector and provides further evidence that inflation will fall below 1% in the coming months," said David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), a group which represents businesses. | |
| Ian Geddes, UK head of retail at Deloitte, pointed out that for the last two years Black Friday has fallen in the December period. | |
| "This year most of the boost provided by the biggest ever Black Friday has been felt in November, and this is reflected in month-on-month volume growth and strong year-on-year increase online," said Mr Geddes. | |
| "The extent to which sales have been promotionally driven is highlighted by the steepest decline in store prices for 12 years." |