Black Friday’s move online helped boost United Kingdom retail sales in November

The surge in volume sales was led by department stores, which rose by 3.4pc on the previous month, while sales of household goods jumped 4.1pc as Black Friday discounts on November 27 encouraged spending.

Total (Swiss: FP.SW – news) sales volumes are on course to rise at the fastest pace in more than a decade this year after official data showed they rose by 1.7pc from October, when volumes fell 0.5pc. However, electricals registered just 5% YoY growth over the month as a whole – significantly lower than the Index growth rate of 11% – continuing what has been a disappointing year for growth in this sector.

Online sales were up 4.9% compared to October and up 12.7% compared to last November.

However, despite the strong figures, analysts cautioned that United Kingdom retailers would be waiting until the end of the Christmas season before drawing firm conclusions. Alfonso has also worked as a professional currency trader focused on North America and emerging markets.

Ian Gilmartin, head of retail and wholesale at Barclays, said: “Typically we look to year-on-year statistics for an accurate picture of the state of play in the retail industry, but the evolution of Black Friday and its developing impact on the pattern of sales in November and throughout the Christmas trading period means that, on this occasion, we have to treat the figures with some caution”. The sample period for November’s retail sales ended on the day after Black Friday.

A survey by the CBI suggested that most manufacturers saw an increase in total orders last month, following October’s three-year low.

On an annual basis, sales were up 5pc, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), marking the 31st consecutive month of increases.

“A continued fall in prices as well as promotions in the run up to Christmas have helped to boost the amount shoppers bought in November, both on the High Street and online”, Melanie Richard, an ONS statistician, said in a statement.

“While cheap fuel makes people drive more, cheaper food hasn’t boosted sales of food – there is only so much a person can eat”.

Consumers are unlikely to face the burden of a rise in interest rates until 2016 at the latest, he added.