Philip Green

retail sales fell for the First Time in 25 years last Year , according to the leading UK online retailers of the body.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said total sales dropped 0. 1%, marking The First annual sales drop since 1995.

sales in November and December were particularly weak, falling 0. 9%, the BRC said.

to spend, A separate report from Barclaycard to increase the failure a rise in the confidence of the consumer found.

the payments company, which processes nearly half of all UK debit and credit card transactions, said that consumer spending had decreased growth when the inflation was not taken into account.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: "Twice in the UK outlet faced with the prospect of a no-deal-UK EU, and the political instability, it is concluded that in the December parliamentary elections - a Further weakening of demand for the festive period.

"retailers also face challenges, as consumers are both more careful and more conscientious, were, as they shop for their Christmas gifts," she added.

The BRC, the figures do not include the entire retail market. About the survey includes some of the fast-growing online retailers, including Amazon, which some experts now expect will account for about 20% of online sales.

But whose chief executive, told the BBC Today programme she believed that the characters actually "an accurate picture".

Ms Dickinson said: "These figures are an estimate, which they are full, are represented on the sales data from dealers, that the majority of retail sales. "

she added: "it 100% of the retailers in the country, some of the companies that are not included, Although not be also be compensated by those who have gone bankrupt. "

The BBC's business correspondent Emma Simpson says: "find out what you can reflect in retail, a bit of a puzzle, and this is certainly a very large piece, especially when It Comes to how our largest, traditional, chain goes. "

Overall, sales figures, look at all of the sales, while like-for-like data, compares sales of stores that were opened in the previous Year , stripping the effects of the expansion in a business.

Like-for-like retail sales rose in December, but this was due to a relatively late Black Friday , the BRC. Once in November, has been included to this distortion, like-for-like sales by 1. 2% compared to the previous Year , it said.

Despite the decline in turnover in the last Year , the volume of sales was still higher than in the Year 2017.

the payments company Barclaycard also the contract said in a separate report, the supermarket with 0. 9% in December, while sales in the specialist trade, such as toys and gaming shops fell by 4%.

However, there are some bright spots took, noting, cinema revenue grew by 19%, supported by blockbuster releases, including Star Wars : The Rise of Skywalker and Frozen II. Spend them in pubs and takeaways also rose over the festive period.

It was a tough Year for the High Street retailer, with several stores either in the administration or announces job cuts in 2019.

Mothercare UK, Bonmarche and luxury jeweler Links of London all went into administration in the past Year .

can announced recall under which Philip Green 's Arcadia retail empire, HMV and Debenhams both, significant store-closures.

the rising cost of living, the issues with business rates, rent and wages under a bigger piece of the retailer. And with footfall on the decline, many shops are just too big and often in the wrong places.

Also, High Street retailers are changing shopping habits, with customers and spend £5 online.

Source of news: bbc.com