Cautious UK shoppers cut purchases in run-up to Christmas

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

Growth in UK retail sales was lower than inflation last month, according to sector data published on Tuesday that suggests households continued to cut purchases in the run-up to Christmas.

The value of retail sales rose by an annual rate of 2.7 per cent in November, well below the 12-month average of 4.1 per cent,…