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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Phillip Inman and Graeme Wearden

Fall in retail sales in Great Britain signals high street recession

Great Britain Recession Office for National Statistics Interest Rates
Shoppers on a drizzly day in Windsor, Berkshire, in November 2023.
Shoppers on a drizzly day in Windsor, Berkshire. Retail sales volumes in Great Britain in October were at their lowest level since February 2021. Photograph: Maureen McLean/Shutterstock

Retailers in Great Britain suffered a slump in sales in October as the impact of high borrowing costs and rising prices signalled a high street recession in the run-up to Christmas.

Bad weather also played a part in a 2.7% year-on-year fall in retail sales that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said hit clothing and household goods stores the hardest.

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