Retail Sales Exceeds Forecasts on Black.....>

UK DATA: Retail Sales Exceeds Forecasts on Black Friday Deals  

-UK Nov Retail Sales +1.4% m/m; +3.6% y/y; +0.4% 3m/3m

-UK Nov Retail Sales Ex-Auto Fuel Sales +1.2% m/m; +3.8% y/y 

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Retail sales posted a robust bounceback in November, defying market 

expectations and the latest soft data surveys, with shoppers 

enthusiastically utilising Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions. The 

1.4% m/m volumes growth ended a run of two consecutive declines, 

courtesy of heavy purchases of household goods (+5.3% m/m - the highest 

since Dec 2013). Much of the strength was found online. Internet sales 

acccounted for 18.2% of all sales in value terms, but looking at the 

non-seasonally adjusted data, online sales accounted for in excess of 

20% of all sales for the first time in the series' history - 

highlighting the true impact of the seasonal promotions. Looking ahead, 

sales could drop by 1.0% in December and still record a flat Q4.