Retail sales grew at their slowest rate year on year since April 2018 last month, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Retail sales by quantity rose 1% in the four weeks to November 23 – the lowest rate of growth recorded since last April and exacerbated by a 1.1% fall in non-food sales.

This sales decline was exacerbated by Black Friday not being included in the period covered by the ONS’ latest figures.

The quantity bought in the three months to November decreased 0.4% in comparison with the previous three months – the first registered decline in this metric since last April.

The quantity bought in November also declined 0.6% month on month, with only household good store registering growth.

The value of sales declined 0.3% on a three-month basis and was down 0.5% month on month, but increased 1.3% year on year.

Online sales accounted for 18.7% of overall sales during the period, down from 19.1% in October.

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