Retail sales in Great Britain weaker than expected despite early Black Friday deals

The November retail figures covered 27 October to 23 November, so only captured early promotions for Black Friday on 29 November. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian

Retail sales in Great Britain were weaker than expected in November despite stores starting to cut prices early as part of Black Friday discounting in the run-up to the key Christmas shopping season.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said sales volumes rose 0.2% month on month in November, falling short of the 0.5% that economists had forecast.