LONDON (Reuters) – British retail sales growth remained sluggish in November despite Black Friday deals, as the ongoing cost-of-living squeeze prompted shoppers to rein in spending on non-essential items, the British Retail Consortium said on Tuesday. The BRC said spending in its members’ stores increased 2.7% in annual terms last month, well below the 4.2% rise a year ago, and similar to the 2.5% increase in October. The BRC data is not adjusted for inflation, so November’s sales growth represents a fall in the volume of goods purchased. “The cost-of-living crisis has taken its toll on Christmas spending for many households, and the continued economic conditions are testing consumer resilience,” said Paul Martin, UK head of retail at accountants KPMG,…
