Black Friday lifts UK retail sales despite income squeeze

Official data suggests shoppers are defying inflation increase, weak wage growth and slump in sterling since Brexit vote

Black Friday discounts encouraged British consumers to increase their spending on the high street and online in November, despite the most protracted squeeze on household income in memory.

Officials at the Office for National Statistics said the American-inspired promotional event had helped drive a 1.1% increase in the number of goods bought last month compared with October, with sales of electrical household appliances making the biggest contribution to growth. City economists had forecast growth of 0.4%.