Retail sales in Great Britain fall despite Black Friday and World Cup

Discounts and football fail to get shoppers spending in November as households cut budgets

Retail sales unexpectedly fell in November as Black Friday discount deals and football’s World Cup failed to boost spending, with the cost of living crisis forcing households to cut budgets.

Sales in Great Britain dropped by 0.4% in November, against a forecast of a 0.3% rise by industry analysts, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).