Black Friday pushed UK retail sales to three month high

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) revealed that retail sales rose to a three month high after shoppers splashed out on discounted goods on Black Friday (28 November).

BRC said total retail spending was 2.2% higher in November compared with the same month last year, while also growing 1.4% month on month.

"These are encouraging signs in the run-up to Christmas, when consumers will likely want to push the boat out even more," said BRC director general Helen Dickinson.

The group added that sales at stores that did not discount products for Black Friday also increased in November.

Household goods and furniture saw the biggest rise in sales, while spending on food again fell during last month by 1.2% from the same time last year.