Retail sales in 2020 fall at fastest level in 23 years – ONS

UK retail sales volumes increased in December as stores were allowed to reopen briefly, following the end of the second national lockdown in England, new figures show. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said retail sales volumes rose 0.3% last month compared with November. However, the ONS said estimates of quantity bought in 2020 fell by 1.9% in the largest year-on-year fall since records began in 1997.