Food stores in Great Britain have worst Christmas since 2013

Supermarket sales volumes dropped by 1.9% month on month to their lowest level in more than a decade in December. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Retailers in Great Britain experienced a surprise fall in sales volumes last month, as supermarkets and other food stores had their worst Christmas since 2013, according to official figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said sales volumes fell 0.3% month on month in December, as the crucial retailing “golden quarter” of trading for the sector proved to be weak this year. Economists had expected sales to grow 0.4%.