Christmas and World Cup help UK retail sales rise in December

Total sales for the month increased by 6.9% compared with a year earlier despite cost of living crisis

Britain's retailers benefited from a sales boost in December fuelled by Christmas shopping and the World Cup, despite growing concerns over the impact of the cost of living crisis on the high street.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said sales growth picked up over the pivotal festive buying period, with a sharp rise on the same month in 2021, as consumers braved cold weather and strikes to ensure friends and family received the gifts they wanted.