Retail sales fall to lowest ever annual level
Department stores and "other" stores, which includes jewellers, cosmetics and toys amongst other sectors, reported record year-on-year falls in the quantity sold in 2020, down 5.2% and 11.6% respectively
The retail sector has suffered its largest annual fall since records began, with total sales down 1.9% against the year prior, as restrictions on non-essential retail continued to impact the sector as a whole.