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Evening Standard

Business

Oscar Williams-Grut

Omicron restrictions spark worse-than-expected Christmas retail sales slump

Office for National Statistics Omicron

Christmas shopping was hit by Plan B restrictions
(Picture: PA Wire)

Retail sales suffered a worse-than-expected slump over Christmas, new data published this morning shows.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show retail sales dropped by 3.7% in December, against expectations of just a 0.8% fall. Sales were still 2.6% higher than pre-pandemic levels.

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