UK retail sales unexpectedly fell 0.3% in December, following a revised 0.1% rise in November. The decline, driven by weak food sales, adds to concerns about the economy and raises expectations for a Bank of England interest rate cut next month.
UK retail sales unexpectedly declined in December, according to official figures released on Friday. This adds to a series of disappointing economic data, strengthening expectations that the Bank of England may lower interest rates next month.
Retail sales, adjusted for the impact of Black Friday, dropped by 0.3% month-on-month in December, following a revised 0.1% increase in November, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported. Economists had predicted a 0.4% rise in sales from November.
The drop was largely driven by weak food sales, which fell to their lowest level since 2013, with supermarkets hit particularly hard, said ONS senior statistician Hannah Finselbach.
In response to the data, the pound slipped around a quarter of a cent against the U.S. dollar, falling below $1.22.
For the fourth quarter as a whole, retail sales were down by 0.8%, which the ONS noted could reduce economic growth by approximately 0.04 percentage points.
Iran accuses the United States of breaching a ceasefire after an alleged attack on a commercial ship in the Gulf of Oman...
A coalition led by a pro-Russian Eurosceptic was on track to form Bulgaria’s next government preliminary r...
Pope Leo XIV has urged Angolans to move beyond decades of division, as tens of thousands gathered for Mass and prayers during his visi...
Concerns grew on Monday (20 April) that the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, due to expire on Tuesday, might not ...
Police said a gunman shot dead seven of his own children and another child early on Sunday morning in S...
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that as of Wednesday evening, it has identified six new cases of meningococcal disease in Kent, bringing the total of confirmed or suspected cases to at least 27.
European leaders have set out plans for a coordinated defensive mission to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, once security conditions allow, following talks involving more than 40 countries.
Kazakhstan has ratified an allied relations treaty with Tajikistan and a strategic partnership agreement with the United Kingdom, aiming to deepen regional cooperation and expand ties with a major foreign investor.
Germany’s opposition party, The Left, on Thursday accused Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government of fuelling the war in Iran by exporting arms to Israel, as new figures revealed millions of euros in approved military sales.
Dozens of Chinese-made humanoid robots have demonstrated improvements in speed, balance and autonomous navigation after completing a half-marathon in Beijing on Sunday (19 April), in a showcase of the country’s fast-developing robotics sector.
The U.S. Navy has forcibly intercepted and boarded the Iranian cargo ship TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman after it attempted to breach the ongoing naval blockade. President Trump confirmed that the vessel was neutralised and seized by Marines following a direct strike on its engine room.
Two Indian-flagged ships were shot at in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, India's Foreign Ministry said, as Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again, less than 24 hours after reopening the 167km long sea passage, which is essential for global trade.
Six people have been killed after a man opened fire in a supermarket in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Saturday (18 April). Ukraine's Security Service said it was investigating the incident as a "terrorist act."
Global leaders and diplomats gathered in southern Türkiye on 17 April for the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum, focusing on uncertainty, conflict, and the future of global cooperation.
Grammy-winning hip-hop artist Kanye West has postponed his upcoming concert in Marseille, France, “until further notice”, amid mounting political opposition and renewed controversy over his past remarks.
Archaeologists in China have uncovered a vast ancient water channel system believed to be around 4,000 years old, offering new insight into early engineering and the development of Chinese civilisation.
Paddington Bear was the big winner at the Olivier Awards in London on Sunday (12 April), with a stage adaptation of the beloved children's books picking up seven prizes at Britain's top theatre honours.
Asha Bhosle, the legendary Indian playback singer whose voice defined generations of Bollywood music, has died at the age of 92 in Mumbai, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across India and beyond.
Rising living and fuel costs are dampening spending during Thailand’s Songkran festival, traditionally one of the country’s busiest holiday periods, as consumers and vendors scale back celebrations.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment