00:00UK retail sales performed better than expected last month after shops received an unexpected
00:06boost during the Christmas period. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show
00:11sales volumes across Great Britain rose by 0.4% in December. Online sales were particularly
00:18strong with internet-based jewellers among the best performers. Economists had forecast
00:24a fall of 0.1% compared with November following reports of weak Christmas trading from a number
00:31of retailers. Looking at the final three months of the year, sales fell by 0.3%. That marked
00:37a sharp slowdown compared with growth of 0.6% in the previous quarter.
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