UK retail sales suffer record drop on Omicron fears

British retail sales suffered a record drop in December as consumers shunned the high street due to Omicron concerns, having snapped up Christmas purchases the previous month, data showed Friday.

Total sales volumes dropped 3.7 per cent last month from November, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement. That was the biggest December month-on-month drop since the data series began in 1996, the ONS said.

Sales had risen by one per cent in November as some consumers bought early gifts for the festive season amid fears over supply-chain problems.

"After strong pre-Christmas trading in November, retail sales fell across the board in December with feedback from retailers suggesting Omicron impacted on footfall," noted Heather Bovill, ONS deputy director.